1. Swann v. Charlotte-
Mecklenberg County Schools

2. Background
• The 14th Amendment had passed, but
Charlotte-Mecklenberg County Schools
were still refusing to desegregate after
almost 20 years.

3. Constitutional Violation
• The 14th amendment as well as the
Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board
of Ed. decided that schools could not be
segregated.

4. Main Question
• Was the Federal Government allowed to
oversee the desegregation of schools?
– Schools are controlled by the states
– The school system was not acting
constitutionally

5. Dates
• Argument on the case began on October
12, 1970
• The case was decided on April 20, 1971

6. Decision
• The court was in unanimous agreement
that the Federal Government could force
schools to desegregate.

7. Impact
• It allowed the Federal Government to
establish quotas for desegregation in
schools and have consequences for states
that did not desegregate.

8. Works Cited
• http://oyez.org/cases/1970-
1979/1970/1970_281