Changes

{{cquote|the forces of our national life are not brought to bear on public questions solely in proportion to the weight of numbers. If they were, the 6 million citizens of the Chicago area would hold sway in the Illinois Legislature without consideration of the problems of their 4 million fellows who are scattered in 100 other counties. Under the Court's new decree, California could be dominated by Los Angeles and San Francisco; Michigan by Detroit.}}

{{cquote|the forces of our national life are not brought to bear on public questions solely in proportion to the weight of numbers. If they were, the 6 million citizens of the Chicago area would hold sway in the Illinois Legislature without consideration of the problems of their 4 million fellows who are scattered in 100 other counties. Under the Court's new decree, California could be dominated by Los Angeles and San Francisco; Michigan by Detroit.}}

But Democrats opposed Dirksen's proposed amendment, and in Illinois (Dirksen's home state) they added a special provision to the Illinois (State) Constitution to require a 3/5th majority in order to ratify any amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  By increasing the threshold for ratifying constitutional amendments from 51% to 60%, '''''Democrats hoped to block Dirken's constitutional amendment to overturn Reynolds v. Sims'''''.

But Democrats opposed Dirksen's proposed amendment, and in Illinois (Dirksen's home state) they added a special provision to the Illinois (State) Constitution to require a 3/5th majority in order to ratify any amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  By increasing the threshold for ratifying constitutional amendments from 51% to 60%, '''''Democrats hoped to block Dirksen's constitutional amendment to overturn Reynolds v. Sims'''''.

But Dirksen's constitutional amendment never passed the U.S. Senate, which was heavily controlled by Democrats.  Instead the 3/5th requirement had the effect of helping block attempts in Illinois to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, which Democrats wanted.  In attempting to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in Illinois, Democrats were unable to attain the 60% threshold, upon which they had insisted in order to block Dirksen's proposed amendment to overturn ''Reynolds v. Sims''.

But Dirksen's constitutional amendment never passed the U.S. Senate, which was heavily controlled by Democrats.  Instead the 3/5th requirement had the effect of helping block attempts in Illinois to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, which Democrats wanted.  In attempting to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in Illinois, Democrats were unable to attain the 60% threshold, upon which they had insisted in order to block Dirksen's proposed amendment to overturn ''Reynolds v. Sims''.

Do you see why that short statement forced Trent Lott to resign as Senate Majority Leader?  Think about this before reading the answer in the next paragraph.

Do you see why that short statement forced Trent Lott to resign as Senate Majority Leader?  Think about this before reading the answer in the next paragraph.

Strom Thurmond ran for president in 1948, before ''Brown v. Board of Education'' ended racial segregation in public schools, and Strom Thurmond support racial segregation in schools as part of his campaign positions.  The media then accused Lott of being a racist by saying the Nation would have been better off if Thurmond had won.  Lott apologized repeatedly and profusely for his statement, and did not mean fo it to be a racist remark, but the media attention and controversy forced him to resign his leadership position, and about five years later he resigned from the Senate altogether.

Strom Thurmond ran for president in 1948, before ''Brown v. Board of Education'' ended racial segregation in public schools, and Strom Thurmond support racial segregation in schools as part of his campaign positions.  The media then accused Lott of being a racist by saying the Nation would have been better off if Thurmond had won.  Lott apologized repeatedly and profusely for his statement, and did not mean for it to be a racist remark, but the media attention and controversy forced him to resign his leadership position, and about five years later he resigned from the Senate altogether.

== Homework ==

== Homework ==