Final answer:
Opponents argue that racial gerrymandering violates the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. It undermines the principle of equal treatment under the law by affecting the voting power of particular racial or ethnic groups. The equal protection clause is a cornerstone of civil rights and is used to review state regulations that impact these rights. The correct option is a. equal protection.
Step-by-step explanation:
Opponents of racial gerrymandering argue that race-based districting is unconstitutional because it violates the equal protection clause. This clause is part of the Constitution as a result of the Fourteenth Amendment.
It was established to ensure that no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Gerrymandering, the drawing of political boundaries to give an unfair advantage to one group, can undermine this principle by diluting the voting power of particular racial or ethnic groups, thereby impacting their equal treatment under the law.
The equal protection clause is a critical component of civil rights, ensuring that all individuals and groups in the United States receive equal treatment regardless of personal attributes such as race, color, ethnicity, sex, gender, and more.
This legal standard is the Supreme Court's main tool for reviewing state regulations affecting civil rights. As such, the practice of racial gerrymandering is challenged as being in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment and the democratic principles it upholds.