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Page Number: 28.0

24 

SHELBY COUNTY v. HOLDER 

Opinion of the Court 

entirely different story.  And it would have been irrational 
to  base  coverage  on  the  use  of  voting  tests  40  years  ago, 
when  such  tests  have  been  illegal  since  that  time.    But 
that is exactly what Congress has done. 

* 

* 

* 
Striking  down  an  Act  of  Congress  “is  the  gravest  and
most delicate duty that this Court is called on to perform.” 
Blodgett v. Holden, 275 U. S. 142, 148 (1927) (Holmes, J., 
concurring).  We do not do so lightly.  That is why, in 2009, 
we  took  care  to  avoid  ruling  on  the  constitutionality  of 
the  Voting  Rights  Act  when  asked  to  do  so,  and  instead 
resolved the case then before us on statutory grounds.  But 
in  issuing  that  decision,  we  expressed  our  broader  con-
cerns  about  the  constitutionality  of  the  Act.    Congress 
could have updated the coverage formula at that time, but 
did  not  do  so.    Its  failure  to  act  leaves  us  today  with  no
choice but to declare §4(b) unconstitutional.  The formula 
in that section can no longer be used as a basis for subject-
ing jurisdictions to preclearance. 

Our  decision  in  no  way  affects  the  permanent,  nation-
wide  ban  on  racial  discrimination  in  voting  found  in  §2. 
We  issue  no  holding  on  §5  itself,  only  on  the  coverage 
formula.  Congress  may  draft  another  formula  based  on 
current conditions.  Such a formula is an initial prerequi-
site  to  a  determination  that  exceptional  conditions  still
exist justifying such an “extraordinary departure from the 
traditional course of relations between the States and the 
Federal Government.”  Presley, 502 U. S., at 500–501.  Our 
country has changed, and while any racial discrimination 
in  voting  is  too  much,  Congress  must  ensure  that  the 
legislation  it  passes  to  remedy  that  problem  speaks  to
current conditions.  

The judgment of the Court of Appeals is reversed. 

It is so ordered.