Document: 377 U.S. 656 84 S.Ct. 1429 12 L.Ed.2d 595 The MARYLAND COMMITTEE FOR FAIR REPRESENTATION et al., Appellants,v.J. Millard TAWES, Governor, al. No. 29. Argued Nov. 13 and 14, 1963. Decided June 15, 1964. [Syllabus from pages 656-657 intentionally omitted] Alfred L. Scanlan, Washington, D.C., for appellants. Archibald Cox, Sol. Gen., the United States, as amicus curiae, by special leave of Court. Robert S. Bourbon, Silver Spring, Md., appellees. Theodore I. Botter, Hackensack, N.J., State New Jersey, curiae. Mr. Chief Justice WARREN delivered opinion 1 This case involves an appeal a decision Maryland Court Appeals upholding validity, under Equal Protection Clause Fourteenth Amendment to Federal Constitution, apportionment seats in Senate. 2 Appellants, residents, taxpayers voters four populous counties (Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Montgomery Prince George's) City unincorporated association, originally brought action Circuit Anne Arundel County, August 1960, challenging Legislature. Defendants below, sued their representative capacities, were various officials charged with duties connection state elections. Plaintiffs below alleged that both houses Legislature, pursuant Art. III, §§ 5, 1867 amended, discriminated against inhabitants more Baltimore according these persons substantially less representation than given residing other areas State. They contended legislative malapportionment violated since provision prohibits any 'denying, diluting or restricting equality voting rights privileges among classes otherwise eligible similarly situated,' asserted there was no political remedy practicably available law obtain relief sought. 3 sought declaratory judgment Constitution deny them those situated protected Clause, failure Legislature reapportion its membership accordance formula which would reasonably reflect present population figures deprived constitutional rights. also requested declaration General Assembly convene convention approved majority State's general election 1950 provisions Constitution. 4 that, unless November 1962 elections thereafter conducted on at-large basis, court enjoin defendants performing until such time should submit referendum vo e amendment basis conformity requirements Amendment. asked retain jurisdiction submitted voters. 5 On February 21, 1961, sustained defendants' demurrers plaintiffs' complaint dismissed without amend. appeal, Appeals, April 25, 1962, splitting 5-to-2, reversed order remanded hearing merits. 228 Md. 412, 180 A.2d 656. Finding federal questions raised not nonjusticiable court, after discussing this Court's Baker v. Carr, 369 186, 82 691, 7 633, stated 6 'if needs be taken bring system into * *, it is preferable point view responsible self-government own duly constituted people themselves undertake task, rather judiciary delicate perhaps unwelcome task doing so.'1 While recognizing '(t)here need Carr Supreme pass upon power deal apportionment,' found 'implicit vacation remand States (, 429, 910, 8 1) Michigan Scholle Hare' cases constitutionality apportionments are 'appropriate consideration *.'2 'a strong implication must some reasonable relationship population, voters, Assembly, if escape label constitutionally-prohibited invidious discrimination,' nevertheless 'possible (or advisable possible) precise, inflexible intractable Assembly.'3 In remanding lower 'receive evidence determine whether discrimination does exist respect either houses' relating held invalid election, 'also declare has power, called Special Session Governor deemed appropriate it, enact bill reapportioning purposes' election. May 24, Court, receiving exhibits argument, House Delegates invidiously George's Counties, but therefore § apportions Delegates, violates Although stating Senate might 'constitutionally based area geographical location regardless voters,' refrained formally passing validity sen torial apportionment. had statute providing reapportionment well propose reapportionment. It withheld granting injunctive retained do so before became appropriate. 9 31, session enacted temporary 'stop-gap' legislation allocating 19 added State.4 However, legislature failed proposed House. newly expires automatically January 1, 1966, except superseding statutory at 1964 rejected, will continue force 1970. further provides expiration shall again apportioned previously unconstitutional. No holding existing Delegates. 10 Following rule senatorial apportionment, plaintiffs appealed question Appeals. 8, ordered prompt 2, apportioning Senate, valid Clause. 28, did violate because felt location, regard served protect minorities, preserve checks balances, prevent hasty, though temporarily popular, legislation, accorded history, tradition reason, placing considerable reliance comparison body 11 July 23, 5-to-3, per curiam affirmed noting reasons filed later date. Plaintiffs' motion reargument, calling attention recent decisions developments denied September 11, 1962. opinion. 229 406, 184 715. initially Continuing, indicated affirming grounds that: (1) Each county 1837 same number seats, periodically been additional representation, 'have always integral part government' have consistently possessed maintained 'distinct individualities'; (2) idea bicameral assumes two different methods Houses check 'hasty illconceived legislation,' one house can constitutionally nonpopulation, basis; (3) subdivisions, closely analogous dissenting judges pointed out even reapportioned, still gross disparties population-based existed dissenters neither history nor so-called analogy provided rational disparities Since upheld plan, senators thereto, delegates elected scheme legislation. Notice Appeals' timely filed, we noted probable 10, 374 804, 83 1691, 1029. II. vests consisting According official census figures, 1960 3,100,689, combined five most subdivisions Maryland—the Baltimore—was 2,336,409. Thus, about 75.3% total lived while 24.7% remaining Under each 23 allocated seat six districts entitled Seat—resulting 29 over three-fourths represented only senators, slightly one-third body. hand, counties, aggregate one-fourth almost two-thirds members body.5 And 15 least 14.1% elect controlling A maximum population-variance ratio 32-to-1 exists between counties. Kent 15,481, Calvert where 15,826 resided, seat, 492,428, likewise senator. As when litigation commenced subsequently unconstitutional courts superseded prescribed numerically fixed 123 provision, being seats. Seven each, three members. seven including all appellants reside, allotted each.6 then-existing pop lation 60 delegates, one-half 63 51.3% membership. 12-to-1 six, Garrett Somerset whose 40,043. 14 practical effect add increasing 142, four-year terms City's respectively, County. basic embodied allocate districts, then distribute 123, basis. new provided, however, during initial period operation, 'and (it) may extended,' district entitled, minimum, means actuality allegedly overrepresented old much former relative power. 79 55.6% 44.4% Counties 35.6% 6-to-1 districts. delegate County represents average 6,541 persons, whereas 37,879. previous provisions, serve terms.7 None revised schemes, divided purpose electing delegates. Rather, large within (and district), thereto.8 makes initiation amendments people.9 Certain provide, taking, 20 years, 'the sense People Convention altering Constitution.'10 Pursuant statewide convention, 1950. An overwhelming (by vote 200,439 56,998) approval convention. Nevertheless, numerous bills convening introduced 1951 repeatedly refused necessary enabling legislation.11 despite favorable electorate, ever convened. next 1970, and, approve cannot actually convened enactment Assembly. 16 opposition legislators Both regular session, declined incorporating limited recommendations commission created 1959 investigate report matter Numerous 1961 passage. Relief discriminatory through apparently unavailable, matter, Article XIV, requires three-fifths affirmative referendum. Admittedly, controlled convened, allocation malapportioned Assembly.12 Significantly, litigation, chances appellants' obtaining infringement rights, courts, remote practically nil.'13 17 Neither statutes Apart following invalid, efforts achieve substantial minor exceptions, futile.14 1900, expanding district, bringing Two 1922. increases remains And, distributed based, 95 limited-population Constitution.15 III. 18 unreported valid, referring stated: 'It appears, therefore, Petitioners conceded, Lower legally reapportioned population.' constitutiona ly instant court's undecided 'No presented Delegates.'16 Questioning majority's assumption regard, 'The seems accept tacitly, expressly, (the Senate) ignors Delegates) due now apportioned. true attack thereto us. true, instances, materially reduced. There close *. Surely, related Representatives Congress States. far perfect.'17 Appellants continually issue sufficiency, Assembly.' Appellees, sole legislature, i.e., presumably strict Appellees argued assumed conceded here considered precluded considering required assume 21 Regardless possible concessions made parties scope reviewing necessity consider challenged whole determining particular entirety, meets requisites. simply impossible decide abstract, evaluating actual employed house. proper, indeed indispensable, subject judicial focus controversy overall legislature. We reject appellees' contention compelled presently fact plainly so. Furthermore, b sis, IV. 22 Reynolds Sims, 533, 1362, required, Elgislature, sufficiently sustainable. conclude erred reversed. applaud willingness render involving challenges schemes.18 standards applicable litigated court. Maryland's plan insufficient spelled our Reynolds.19 24 For Reynolds,20 sustaining principle scheme, significant deviations clearly misplaced.21 considerations tradition, relied appellees, not, could provide sufficient justification 25 circumstances case, feel inappropriate discuss remedial time.22 terms, 1966. prior o 1966 primary With hereby unconstitutional, inherent pending adoption comport requirements.23 26 responsibility rests itself adequate act, obliged take fails fashion afforded opportunity permitted plan. reverse proceedings inconsistent views Sims. ordered. 27 Reversed remanded. 28 CLARK concurs reversal his concurring 587, 1395. Dissenting HARLAN printed Nos. 41, 589, 30 STEWART. 31 finding reflects 'no policy, arbitrary capricious inaction.' Nor I think record us warranted. Consequently, expressed my Lucas Forty-Fourth Colorado, 744, 1477. affirm 'could shown systematically ultimate effective rule.' address question. Accordingly, vacate full issue. 419, A.2d, 659. Id., 428, 664. 433—434, 667—668. Md.Ann.Code (1962 Supp.), 40, 42. Included Appendix B chart comparing 430, 730. 4, minimum county, proportional up county's reached 55,000, exceeded 55,000. 1950, adopted freezing 1940 census. smaller continuing receive increased expense larger which, formula, how increase thereafter. Additionally, boundaries approximately equal 6, 7, contains showing populations, Also included delegate, computations values votes subdivisions. 728—729. XVI, 2—5, procedure conducting certain types enactments, filing petition signed 3% qualified discussion lack significance presence absence remedy, see pp. 736—737, 1473—1474. Md.Const. 2. Despite clear mandate states Convention, Law assembling thereto.' Compare situation availability discussed Lucas, U.S., 732—733, S.Ct., 1471 1472. provides: 'Each Legislative District called.' 432—433, 667. fact, change 1837, indirect abolished. 1864 form senator 1867, confirmed scheme. aspects situation, Note, Reapportionment—The Experience, Geo.Wash.L.Rev. 812 (1963). 410, 716. 421—422, 723—724. commendable example exercise Kansas Harris Shanahan, 192 Kan. 183, 387 P.2d 771 Of course, us, indicate merits case. pattern prolonged inaction matters existence rural strangle hold parallels Alabama, although Maryland, unlike requiring decennial See 571—576, 1386—1389. attacked resemble important respects: House, since, Baltimore. p. 585, 1393. 438—440, 670—671, 'because powers theGeneral plenary, provisions.' reference earlier opinion, ante, 661.

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