Early in 2017, various California voters, groups, and even a city, sued California alleging that because the population of California legislative districts is so great, the state is violating the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees the citizens of each state a republican form of government. The lawsuit argues that because Assembly districts have almost 500,000 people, and State Senate districts almost 1,000,000, there is no ability for ordinary people to enjoy meaningful communication with their state legislators.
The case, Citizens for Fair Representation v Padilla, e.d., 2:17cv-973, had a hearing on September 8, and Judge Kimberly Mueller still hasn’t decided how the plaintiffs may amend their complaint or whether the case will get a 3-judge court.
There is currently an initiative that is being validated, that would reduce assembly districts to 5,000 persons and senate districts to 10,000 persons AND cut the cost of the legislature by 1/3.
Why should the federal government interfere?
Honorable Jim Riley, is the initiative being validated calling for pure proportional representation?
If not, should it pass, then it would have identical problems representing third parties and independents in the smaller districts.
Single winner districts have the same bad effect on larger population districts, as they do on a smaller population districts.
It sounds like a poorly written initiative that was written for the polarized largest two parties while eliminating representation of third largest interest groups.
What is the magic highest ratio of voters/reps ???
PR – via 4-4 RFG and 14 Amdt, Sec 1 EP Cl.
Honorable Dem Rep, Article the First, advocated by George Washington, mentions 50,000 voters as being appropriate.
How many voters personally know a mere 50,000 other voters ???
How many slaves did G.W. own in 1776 onward ???
Abolish the USA minority rule Senate.
Divide ALL of the larger States.
Minimum size for a nation-state legislative body ???
PR and AppV
George Washinton referred to his army of 30,000, knowing each and every soldier personally knew him, and that 30,000 for early districts and to grow to 50,000 voting member districts, favoring Article the First.
@James Ogle,
The text of the proposed amendment is available on the Secretary of State website.
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/initiative-and-referendum-status/initiatives-and-referenda-pending-signature-verification/
It is undergoing random signature checking — by Dec 21, 2017.
https://www.mtdemocrat.com/news/lack-of-representation-lawsuit-heard-today/
background on the CFR group —
apparently one more secession group