Baker v. Carr (1962) is a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that established federal courts' authority to review state legislative apportionment for violations of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Court ruled 6-2 that such challenges are justiciable, rejecting the argument that they involve non-justiciable political questions.

Background

Charles Baker, a voter from an urban Tennessee district, sued state officials because Tennessee had not reapportioned its legislative districts since 1901, despite population shifts that diluted urban votes compared to rural areas. Lower courts dismissed the case as non-justiciable, but the Supreme Court reversed, finding plaintiffs had standing and the issue fell within federal judicial power.

Ruling and Impact

Justice William J. Brennan wrote the majority opinion, outlining six factors for identifying political questions and remanding the case for further proceedings. This decision paved the way for the "one person, one vote" principle in later cases like Reynolds v. Sims and addressed gerrymandering concerns. Dissenters, led by Justice Felix Frankfurter, argued it breached separation of powers by intruding on legislative matters.