The Daily Banner, Greencastle, Putnam County, 26 April 1966 — Page 5
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League Looks at Hie Question Of Apportionment
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Tht controversy over the basis Of representation in state legialatnrae has two main roots: the dynamics of 20th century urban growth and the failure of state MgWatnrm to respond to
Ike classic example of results Of this combination of change
and inaction was the situation in Tennessee in 1962. Through more than half a century during which the population became more sparse in some sections of the state and more dense in others, the legislature failed to heed the state constitution’s mandate that the legisla-
ture, at regular intervals, reap-ment which by 1962 had reached
portion legislative seats fin the
basis of population.
Except where district lines are spelled out in state constitutions there Is usually provision for some adjustment to reflect population changes. Failure by legislatures to comply with such requirements has affected representation in those states where an area factor is in use as well as in states using a population base. Inaction in both instances has contributed to growing disparities in the number of people In legislative districts and resulted in the civic complaint called malapportkm-
epidemic proportions.
It was the nationwide extent of malapportionment that made sq Important the action brought in the Federal District Court by Baker and other individuals from the under-represented legislative districts in Tennessee. The plaintiffs took their case to the federal court only after tellure to find remedy in state
courts.
The Supreme Court’s decision on the apportionment of state legislatures came in June, 1964, in a case from Alabama. The conclusion was that the Equal Protection Clause in the 14th
Amendment of the Constitution equitable basis for representa-
requires that the seats in both houses of a bicameral state legislature must be apportioned substantially on a population basis. The Court stated, "The Equal Protection Clause demands no less than substantially equal state legislative representation for all citizens, of all places as well as all races.” For six months local Leagues throughout the country studied the many conflicting views on this subject. After careful study and deliberation, an agreement clearly appeared among the members. The Leagues concluded that the .only fair and
tion is substantially on population. To single out any interest or groups of interests for overrepresentation in the policymaking state legislature defeats the principles of a democratic and representative system of government. Every individual is a member of many minorities— for example, religious, racial, work-affiliated, cultural, political, income, geographic. To represent the citizens equally and to protect minorities constitutionally is the philosophy of our system of government Leagues believe that diversity and allowance for special problems is at-
TtM Daily Banner, Graancastla, Indiana Tuesday, April 26, 1966
the adverb, "substantially,” as it is used in the quotation above. Leagues also believe that periodic apportionment is necessary so that the composition of legislatures will reflect population changes. On April 20 the Senate rejected for the third time a proposal to amend the Constitution to permit one house ef a state legislature to be apportioned on geographical or political subdivisions, as well as population, if approved in a state referendum.
tainable within the context of This proposal, which was in con-
flict with its position, was opposed by the League of Women Voters.
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