Colegrove v. Green (1940)
- Docket
- 804
- Decided
- 1940-1955-
Summary
Question: Did the Illinois congressional districts unconstitutionally violate principles of fair apportionment? Conclusion: The Court held that the Illinois districts were constitutional, largely because existing laws imposed no requirements "as to the compactness, contiguity and equality in population of districts." In a plurality opinion, Frankfurter declined to involve the Court in the districting process, arguing that the political nature of apportionment precluded judicial intervention. "The remedy for unfairness in districting is to secure State legislatures that will apportion properly, or to invoke the ample powers of Congress."