The Supreme Court ruled in 1964 that representation in the both houses of the state legislatures need to be based on population. Up until that time in most states each county in each of the states was entitled to one senator per county. The Supreme Court ruling stripped the counties of their right have a representative in the state senate.
Today there are 24 representatives and 11 senators representing the City of Los Angeles while there are fewer assemblymen and senators in all of the counties north of Sacramento.
There are two kinds of counties in California. There are urban counties and there are rural counties. Each county needs to be fairly represented in order to prevent the abuse of power by one group over another.
In order to provide restore checks and balances, there needs to be an assembly to represent the people and a senate to represent the counties. The Supreme Court decision of Reynolds Versus Sims needs to be reversed.
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The ruling was based on a misreading of the 14th Amendment, which could reasonably be interpreted to require at least one house of a legislature be based on population, but not that all must be. It stems from the mistaken notion that a majority should be sufficient to exercise the will of the people, and not just necessary to do so.
I have amendments that would have the effect of overturning Reynolds v. Sims by replacing winner-take-all elections with other methods. http://constitution.org/reform/us/con_amend.htm
California may as well be handed over to Mexico . Well first Iguess we'd have to take back that port Billy Bob rapist gave to China. But you're right Keith . Every county across the nation needs to be represented in their Legislature and the supreme bunch needs to go back to school and learn what the constitution allows them to do AND IT AIN'T MAKE LAWS OR RULES FOR OTHERS TO OBEY!!!
The government of the United States does not have the authority to dictate to the states how they set up their state legislatures. Before 1964 the states had employed the same model as the Congress of the United States. The model consisted of two legislative houses with one being a house representing the people and a second House representing the states. The states legislatures were organized similarly with one House representing the people and the other representing the counties.
Chief Justice Earl Warren reasoned that since only people had a right to vote, geographical regions should not have a voice in in the legislatures of the state. If counties should be denied the right to vote, should not the states also be denied equal representation in the Senate of the United States.
The fact is that the Supreme Court does not have lawful jurisdiction over how the states organize their legislative bodies.
That's right the FED can not tell the STATES.... The END....
And since the STATES are violating the PEOPLE"S rights it is time to ABOLISH the corruption that exists. Reinstate the Common Law Grand Juries........
http://www.nationallibertyalliance.org/counties-status
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The States have accepted the Reynolds v Sims opinion that strips the right of the people in the counties of their right to be equally represented in the state senate. Rulings from the Supreme Court are not laws, they are opinions. Our states legislatures joined with Congress to deprive the people of the counties with their rights to equally represented in the state legislature.
Those of us in rural counties should have the same impact on the control of our state government and therefore our lives as big cities.
The urban centers have their representation in the House of Representatives and the States have their representation in the Senate. If both Houses were to be determined by population, there would be no reasons to two Houses that represent the same constituency.
Thank you
That was one of the main points of the US Constitution, that the Senate makes each State an equal, and the State Government should again select the two Senators from each State - each State can recall their Senator at any time.
The US Supreme Count in 1964, violated State Rights, in saying the State Senates must represent population. Look at the Polish Constitutional Republic of the 1400 to 1700, before the US was created and a base for the US Constitution !!
Abolish the 14th 16th and 17th Amendments, and add that Congress people are not above the laws that they pass and that they must balance the budget, as all of us must do !!