Baker v. Carr, 1962,
Facts of the case
Charles W. Baker and other Tennessee citizens alleged that a 1901 law designed to apportion the seats for the state's General Assembly was virtually ignored. Baker's suit detailed how Tennessee's reapportionment efforts ignored significant economic growth and population shifts within the state.
Charles W. Baker and other Tennessee citizens alleged that a 1901 law designed to apportion the seats for the state's General Assembly was virtually ignored. Baker's suit detailed how Tennessee's reapportionment efforts ignored significant economic growth and population shifts within the state.
Constitutional Question:
Does the Supreme Court have jurisdiction over questions of legislative apportionment?
Does the Supreme Court have jurisdiction over questions of legislative apportionment?
Decision: 6-2 for Baker
The Court does NOT decide political matters. The court reasoned that the case was pending on the EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE in the FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT. It was a matter of, was Baker's vote, in malapportioned district, no longer equal to voter's in districts with smaller populations. The court decided that the mandate of "one man, one vote" was necessary to ensure that the equal protection clause was followed. This meant that legislative districts created by the states needed to be roughly the same size.
The Court does NOT decide political matters. The court reasoned that the case was pending on the EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE in the FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT. It was a matter of, was Baker's vote, in malapportioned district, no longer equal to voter's in districts with smaller populations. The court decided that the mandate of "one man, one vote" was necessary to ensure that the equal protection clause was followed. This meant that legislative districts created by the states needed to be roughly the same size.
Dissenting Opinions: sidestepped previous rulings (Colegrove V. Green said it was up to citizens to vote out state lawmakers if they were unhappy with the map), interfered with the separation of powers between Congress and the Court