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Should the outcome of Reynolds v. Sims be considered a landmark decision?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Reynolds v. Sims, 377 US 533 (1964)
Yes, Reynolds v. Sims could be considered a landmark ruling, although it was an expected result of the US Supreme Court's earlier decision in Baker v. Carr, 369 US 186 (1962), in which the Court decided reapportionment of state legislative districts was not a "political question" that should be resolved through legislation, but one that had to be addressed by the courts. This was primarily due to deliberate gerrymandering, or construction through political means of voting districts that allowed certain demographic groups (rural, generally white) more political power by using geographic boundaries that gave underpopulated rural areas more representation than over-populated urban areas. Baker recognized the discrimination inherent in this system, and realized the only way to address the problem was through constitutional interpretation and judicial mandate. This could be considered a check on the power of both the state and federal legislative branches.
Reynolds v. Sims formally established the "one man, one vote" rule (also called "one person, one vote") that held state political districts of unequal size resulted in under-representation of some citizens' interests and over-representation of others'. This was considered "unrepublican," per Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution, and unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection Clause. In order to meet constitutional standards, district lines had to be redrawn so each had approximately equal population.
Wesberry v. Sanders, 376 US 1 (1964), a case heard slightly earlier the same Term as Reynolds, applied the equal apportionment principle to Districts of the US House of Representatives.
All three cases are landmark decisions of the US Supreme Court, but both Reynolds and Wesberry could be considered mere vehicles used to implement the intent telegraphed in Baker v. Carr. In other words, the Supreme Court had most likely seen a need for the "one man, one vote" rule in 1962, but had to wait for parties to bring actual cases challenging apportionment in order to apply the rule, due to constitutional restrictions on the Judicial branch.
Article III of the Constitution specifies the Court can only exercise jurisdiction over real cases and controversies; it can't take preemptive action to overturn laws, no matter how unconstitutional the laws may seem. This sometimes results in unconstitutional laws being in effect and enforceable for years before the Supreme Court can nullify them.
For more information, see Related Questions, below.
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∙ 13y ago
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