Document: 387 U.S. 105 87 S.Ct. 1549 18 L.Ed.2d 650 James SAILORS et al., Appellants,v.BOARD OF EDUCATION the COUNTY KENT al. No. 430. Argued April 17 and 18, 1967. Decided May 22, Wendell A. Miles, Grand Rapids, Mich., for appellants. Paul O. Strawhecke, appellees. Francis X. Beytagh, Jr., Cleveland, Ohio, United States, as amicus curiae, pro hac vice, by special leave of Court. Mr. Justice DOUGLAS delivered opinion 1 Appellants, qualified registered electors Kent County, Michigan, brought this suit in Federal District Court to enjoin Board Education County from detaching certain schools city Rapids attaching them declare county board be unconstitutionally constituted, further elections until electoral system is redesigned. Attack also made on adequacy statutory standards governing decisions light requirements due process. We need not bother with intricate problems state law involved dispute. For federal posture case a very limited one. The people Michigan (qualified school electors) elect local boards.1 No constitutional question presented respects those election. alleged questions arise when it comes board. It chosen, county, but delegates boards. Each sends delegate biennial meeting five members, who members boards,2 candidates nominated electors. argued that choosing parallels countyunit which we invalidated under Equal Protection Clause Fourteenth Amendment Gray v. Sanders, 372 368, 83 801, 9 821 violates principle 'one man, one vote' held Reynolds Sims, 377 533, 84 1362, 12 506, was constitutionally required elections. A vast array facts assembled showing inequities gives vote every (irrespective population, wealth, etc.) selection three-judge court convened, divided method constitution did violate Amendment. 254 F.Supp. 17. noted probable jurisdiction, 385 966, 499, 431. 2 conclude properly unlike situation Moody Flowers, 97, 1544, 643, where statute challenged3 applies generally all boards type described. 3 start what said supra, at 575, 1388: 4 'Political subdivisions States—counties, cities or whatever—never were never have been considered sovereign entities. Rather, they traditionally regarded subordinate governmental instrumentalities created State assist caryi ng out function. As stated Hunter City Pittsburgh, 207 161, 178, (28 40, 52 L.Ed. 151,) these units are 'created convenient agencies exercising such powers state, may entrusted them,' 'number, nature duration conferred upon (them) * territory over shall exercised rests absolute discretion state." 5 find no reason why officers nonlegislative character here chosen governor, legislature, some other appointive means rather than an Our cases have, main, dealt States Senator Congressman (Gray supra; Wesberry 376 1, 526, 11 481) officers4 supra) legislators. WMCA, Inc. Lomenzo, 633, 1418, 568; Davis Mann, 678, 1441, 609; Roman Sincock, 695, 1449, 620; Lucas Forty-Fourth Gen. Assembly Colo., 713, 1459, 632; Marshall Hare, 378 561, 1912, 1036. 6 They had provided cast must provide election officials. 7 cannot course manipulate its political so defeat federally protected right, example, realigning deny person his because race.5 Gomillion Lightfoot, 364 339, 345, 81 125, 129, 110. Yet Anderson Dunn, Wheat. 204, 226, 242: 8 'The science government most abstruse sciences; if, indeed, can called has few fixed principles, practically consists little more exercise sound applied exigencies arise. experiment.' If assume arguendo provides official agency, Sanders Sims met, still short answer present problem whether allow appointed. 10 When '* legislatures authority experiment new techniques' (Day-Brite Lighting, Missouri, 342 421, 423, 72 405, 407, 96 469), talking about Due Process Amendment, Holmes, dissenting Lochner New York, 198 45, 75, 25 539, 546, 49 937, he intended embody organic relation citizen *.' But indicated precisely same approach taken municipal arrangements within framework State. Save unless runs afoul leeway management internal affairs. selecting basically elective.6 decie time constitute legislative body through elective reserve Flowers (Board Supervisors Bianchi), disposed jurisdictional grounds. do here, performs essentially administrative functions;7 while important, classical sense. Viable governments many innovations, numerous combinations old devices, great flexibility meet changing urban conditions. see nothing Constitution prevent experimentation. At least officers, appoint officials combine systems done here. agency—whether administrative, legislative, judicial—the presented. there board, complaint raised respecting Since choice involve since none offices, relevancy. 13 Affirmed. 14 HARLAN STEWART concur result. In district's elected popular residents district. See Mich.Stat.Ann. § 15.3023 (1959) Comp.Laws 1948, 340.23 (P.A.1955, 269); §§ 15.3027, 15.3055, 15.3056, 15.3107, 15.3148, 15.3188, 15.3511 (Supp.1965), 340.27, 340.55, 340.56, 340.107, 340.148, 340.188, 340.511 269). 15.3294(1), 15.3295(1) (Supp.1965). 340.294a, 340.295a (P.A.1962, 190). By 15.3294(2)—15.3294(6) 340.294b—340.294f 190), submits matter referendum approve. So far advised, held; membership challenged, constituted 15.3294(1) were: Senator, Governor, Lieutenant Supreme Court, Judge Appeals, Secretary State, Attorney General, Comptroller Commissioner Labor, Treasurer. Nor restraints imposed circumvented bodies whom authority. Standard Computing Scale Co. Farrell, 240 571, 577, 39 380, 382, 63 780; Cooper Aaron, 358 17, 78 1401, 1409, 5. boards, electors, select While turn, attend selected, their votes accord expressed preferences There even formal determine evident, therefore, determined, directly indirectly, participate. 'electorate' composed includes appointment superintendent (Mich.Stat.Ann. 15.3298(1)(b) (Supp.1965)), preparation annual budget levy taxes 15.3298(1)(c) distribution delinquent 15.3298(1)(d) furnishing consulting supervisory services constituent district request 15.3298(1)(g) conducting cooperative educational programs behalf districts 15.3298(1)(i) intermediate 15.3298(1)(j) employment teachers 15.3298(1)(h) establishing, direction Supervisors, children juvenile homes 15.3298(1)(k) (Supp.1965)) 340.298a One board's sensitive functions, giving rise litigation, power transfer areas another. 15.3461 (1959), 340.461

Category: 1