Supreme Court of the United States

Lucas v. Forty-Fourth General Assembly of Colorado

June 15, 1964377 U.S. 713

Summary

The Supreme Court reversed the district court, holding that the Equal Protection Clause requires both houses of a state legislature to be apportioned substantially on a population basis and that Colorado's Amendment No. 7 Senate scheme violates that requirement.

Holding

  • Whether the Equal Protection Clause requires both houses of a bicameral state legislature to be apportioned substantially on a population basis.. Yes; both houses must be apportioned substantially on a population basis under the Equal Protection Clause.
  • Whether Colorado's Amendment No. 7 Senate apportionment violates the Equal Protection Clause.. The Amendment No. 7 Senate apportionment is unconstitutional because its population disparities are not rationally justified.

Docket 508

Cited authorities

  • 38 Notre Dame Law. 367
  • 61 Mich. L. Rev. 107
  • 38 Notre Dame Law. 499
  • 61 Mich. L. Rev. 711
  • 72 Yale L.J. 39
  • 76 Harv. L. Rev. 54
  • 112 U. Pa. L. Rev. 631
  • 72 Yale L.J. 968

Cited by