J. Douglas Smith

When asked the most important issue decided by his Court, Chief Justice Earl Warren cited Baker v. Carr (1962), Reynolds v. Sims (1964), and a series of companion cases that established the principle of "one-person, one-vote" in all congressional and state legislative apportionments. These decisions ushered in a revolution that changed the face of representative democracy in the United States. Despite the importance of these cases, not one full-length monograph has appeared in print in nearly thirty-five years. During that time, numerous relevant sources have become available, including the papers of Supreme Court justices; lawyers involved in the cases; and organizations such as the League of Women Voters which actively fought efforts to overturn the rulings.