Document: 459 U.S. 159 103 S.Ct. 530 74 L.Ed.2d 334 CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, Texas, Appellant,v.UNITED STATES et al. No. 81-708. Argued Oct. 6, 1982. Decided Dec. 13, Syllabus Under § 5 of the Voting Rights Act 1965, a covered State or political subdivision, such as appellant city Port Arthur, must obtain federal preclearance change in its voting practices procedures either from Attorney General by obtaining declaratory judgment District Court for Columbia that proposed has neither purpose nor effect denying right to vote on account race. In 1977 and 1978, Arthur was consolidated with two neighboring cities annexed an incorporated area, result percentage black population within Arthur's borders decreased 45.21% 40.56%. Appellant ultimately filed suit Court, seeking approval consolidations annexation, expansion City Council seven members (including mayor), who had been previously elected at large majority vote, nine-member Council. After rejection earlier electoral plans, submitted plan involving election councilmen four single-member districts, which included majorities; at-large other each consisted one majority; mayor. All council seats would be governed majority-vote rule, requiring run-offs if none candidates received votes cast. Although concluding could not denied being discriminatory purpose, held approved under because it insufficiently neutralized adverse impact upon minority strength resulted expansion. However, court stated were modified eliminate requirement respect non-mayoral, candidates, permit those made plurality consider defect remedied offer approval. Held: The did exceed authority conditioning clearance elimination requirement. Pp. 165-168. (a) Section does forbid all municipal dilute power particular groups community. can only modifications plan, calculated neutralize extent possible any participation groups, are adopted. 165-166. (b) err holding eliminated order sufficiently dispel relative Whether adequately reflected enlarged is issue determinable mathematical precision. Since undervalued some community, eliminating understandable adjustment. And, even scheme might otherwise said reflect element reasonable hedge against possibility contained purposefully element. 166-168. 517 F.Supp. 987, affirmed. Robert Q. Keith, Beaumont, Tex., appellant. Carter G. Phillips, Washington, D.C., appellees. Justice WHITE delivered opinion Court. 1 42 U.S.C. 1973c, requires when state subdivision Act1 adopts seeks administer standards, practices, voting, United States abridging race.2 Perkins v. Matthews, 400 379, 91 431, 27 476 (1971), changes boundary lines annexations enlarge number eligible voters events 5. question this case whether correctly city's annexation. 2 * December 1977, Pear Ridge Lakeview. Six months later, Sabine Pass, area. As these expansions City's borders, Blacks age comprised 35% city.3 3 Prior expansions, seven-member council, including mayor, member vote. Each except mayor required reside specific district city. Members staggered terms. Following consolidations, passed ordinance adding eighth while retaining system residency requirements. annexation further expanded nine members, elections before. together governing system, pursuant Act. refused preclearance, suggesting, however, he reconsider fairly drawn districts. 4 permitted do, then have color race meaning While pending, referendum "4-4-1" calling districts identical ninth member, without requirement.4 That like previous elect member. moved amend complaint so seek legality 4-4-1 plan. concluded there legitimate purposes behind actions, Richmond States, 422 358, 95 2296, 45 245 (1975), purpose. Because substantially reduced population, necessary post-expansion found satisfy requirements first measured up, adopted but also context severe racial bloc characteristic recent past minority's potential community Rome 446 156, 100 1548, 64 119 (1980); supra; Petersburg 354 1021 (DDC1972), aff'd, 410 962, 93 1441, 35 698 (1973). 6 Soon after decision, jointly "4-2-3" scheme, divided into Districts through 4. 5, comprising another combined 3. Three additional large, third seat occupied no is, runoffs voted constituted 4, 79% 62.78% respectively, well 70.83% fifth combining sixth 10.98% black. expressed reservations about features, position aspects warranted denial preclearance. 7 response oral argument submission, "that neutralizes borders." added, "would our approval." This appeal followed, basic submission controlling cases exceeded 4-2-3 requirement.5 We noted probable jurisdiction. --- ----, 102 1272, 71 457. II 8 subject increasing dilutes weight whom franchise limited before may dilution debasement just effectively wholly prohibiting franchise. It soon became clear, intended diluted supra, area heavy white reducing status. nevertheless "only condition [in plan] adopted, i.e., [City] shift ward electing councilmen." F.Supp., 1031. affirmed summarily. 9 Later, we expressly reaffirmed Petersburg, recognizing enhanced exclude Negroes stating consequence satisfactorily obviated replaced choosing U.S., 370, S.Ct., 2303. view fairly-designed prevent total exclusion membership afford them representation reasonably equivalent their community." Ibid. applied principles Richmond. There, heavily 52% 42%, proposal prior blacks substantial councilmanic long Negro existed should granted. "Negro new [would be] undervalued, [would] underrepresented council." Id., 371, 2304. not, therefore, 10 us, party areas taken predominantly white, less than expansions. Arthur. submits error 11 Richmond, involved drawn, consequently acceptable annexation's potential. necessarily follow mixed dispelled although provided three non-mayoral positions. For several reasons, cannot say erred respect. 12 First, city, minds differ sitting equity devise remedy what statutory violation, rush overturn judgment. Cf. Swann Board Education, 402 1, 15, 1267, 1275, 28 554 (1971). 13 Second, community: one-third 40.56% population. light fact, understood, forbade plurality, always require candidate election, survived initial round, run candidate. prevalent rule permanently foreclose seat. Removal requirement, hand, enhance chances affected Court's conditional surely guarantee result. Only more running chance winning system. insisting overvalue inconsistent 14 Third, invalid racially purposes, imposed excluding realistic opportunity represent exercise influence 378-379, 2307, 245. finding tainted impermissible purpose; preceding illicit preventing election. major means effectuating end. When presented seats, conditioned seems us findings action On balance, fault 15 accordingly 16 Affirmed. POWELL, REHNQUIST O'CONNOR join, dissenting. 17 affirms order, ensures proportional free 5—in newly perceived equitable jurisdiction—to "enhance" increased body. case, enhancement rather give citizens better capturing—in addition assured them—the seats. Ante, Pp.167-1681 decision irreconcilable authorizes standardless jurisdiction courts, I dissent. 18 territory 42%. preclear came agreement Columbia. rejected failed "minimiz[e] greatest extent." 367, 2302. WHITE, vacated accept municipality "fairly reflects exists annexation" [it] [its] 370-371, See 187, 1566, (1980), aff'ing, 472 221, (D.D.C.1979); Rome, 188, 1567 (BLACKMUN, J., concurring); Jewish Organizations Carey, 430 144, 160, 97 996, 1007, 51 229 (1977) (opinion J.); Beer 425 130, 139 n. 11, 96 1357, 1363 47 629 (1970). dissent, BRENNAN find dilutive cured "calculated voters." 389, 2312. 19 boundaries consolidation.2 45% 40%. disapproved both negotiations, reached plan—at case—complied Accordingly, 33% positions, members. 20 agreed brief because, words reminiscent BRENNAN's dissent "insufficiently strength." approve "so provide representatives vote," considered 21 fundamentally inconsistent, must, definition, "afford [blacks] Organizations, 169, 1011 (BRENNAN, concurring part) ("[T]he very definition precludes underrepresentation overrepresentation. . ."). Apparently effort justify states "undervalued p. 167. No support statement cited, record.3 Government, asserted appear fair 'representation community.' 2303, (1975)." App., 79a-80a. intervenors time "the approach affording ." 83a. 22 Furthermore, finds theory enhanced, preserved, doctrine. Congress never embraced, indeed 1982 extension viewed rejecting.4 Moreover, do disagree General's construction Act, "sitting equity," ante, 167, enhancement. interpreting applying statute vests open-ended court. 23 six year, Department approximately 8,709 applications average 66 per working day.5 Congress, President, recently personnel extensive control over local decisions. sheer volume makes imperative prescribing predictable standards. Proportional representation, whatever theoretical practical limitations nation populations diverse mobile least objective standard, exist case—whether deemed not—it dispositive. today, discretion Courts impose representation. leaves responsible authorities communities General—without guidance III 24 discussion providing "effects" determination disquieting reasons. notes, motive prompted jurisdictions involved. 1019-1021. factors led conclude 8-0-1 plans bearing similarly motivated later good-faith negotiations General. Finally, Government concedes factor case.6 Indeed, fails explain satisfactorily—how negotiated 25 my opinion, shown satisfied fully 5's effect-and-purpose test standard now demand more. reverse order. undisputed applicable. 46 Fed.Reg. 870, 880. relevant part provides follows: Whenever prohibitions set forth section 1973b(a) title based determinations sentence 1973b(b) shall enact qualification prerequisite practice, procedure different force institute qualification, prerequisite, will color, contravention guarantees 1973b(f)(2) title, unless until enters person failure comply procedure: Provided, enforced proceeding chief legal officer appropriate official interposed objection sixty days good cause shown, facilitate expedited affirmatively indicated made. pre-annexation post-annexation percentages 1980 census. figure estimate, derived extrapolating 1970 census data. showed 34.6% 40.01% general itself dangers extrapolation, explained parties suggested determining current Hispanic comprises 6.30% unsuccessfully sought enjoin three-judge Eastern Texas. B-80-216-CA (ED Tex. Sept. 1980). argues assigns primary responsibility determine violates Preclearance obviate suit, here acting capacity litigant joined submitting court's consideration. posture, General, City, dictate conclusion acceptability recognized elections, valid long-accepted practice followed literally thousands municipalities governmental units throughout Nation." Mobile Bolden, 55, 60, 1490, 1495, (1980) (plurality opinion). acknowledged benefits entire consolidation: "Port extremely interested maintaining excess 50,000 remain entitled matter funds agencies Urban Development ("HUD"). Were decrease below level, HUD diminish amount direct grant year; fourth compete applicants discretionary awards. 1975, evidence [declining towards] mark. Having already adjacent communities, turned Ridge, Lakeview Griffing Park. services residents, anticipated cost minimal greatly outweighed tax revenue. hoped visibility resulting consolidation attract businesses thereby create jobs." 999. interim 1981, electorate chose notes consisting five whites. Reply Brief 6. rely conclusion: slight differential between population; larger There preference statistics, see 164 23, 1009 J.), they "probative" "electoral community," 186 22, 1566 statistics. Even statistics here, formulations recognition unreasonable, impossible, minorities precisely circumstances quite similar here. Beer, 19, 1372 (1976) (MARSHALL, dissenting) (approving representation/voting 6%). "permanently foreclose" ignores dynamics region, facts attest. With composed citizens, politically naive think significant—and often decisive—influence results numerous demonstrate cohesive segment electorate. J. Wilkinson, Harry Byrd 346 (1968) ("By middle 1960's balance-of-power ballots Virginia and] elsewhere South....."). 2(b) 1982, Pub.L. 97-205, Stat. 131, violation established "based totality circumstances," processes "are equally open blacks." amendment "[t]he protected class office circumstance considered. Senate committee report that: "Electoral devices, se attack 2. They vulnerable if, circumstances, equal access process. [T]he presence officials indicator S.Rep. 97-417, 97th Cong., 2d Sess., (1982), U.S.Code Cong. & Admin.News pp. 177, 193. Justice, Civil Division, Section, Number Changes Submitted Reviewed By Year, 1965 June 30, (unpublished). following exchange took place argument: Court: And get still level? Government: Not terms no, Your Honor. So effect? Yes, don't believe read cast doubt Tr. Oral Arg. 30.

Category: 1