Gaffney v. Cummings

The questions in this case are whether the population variations among the election districts provided by a reapportionment plan for the Connecticut General Assembly, proposed in 1971, made out a prima facie case of invidious discrimination under the Equal Protection Clause and whether an otherwise acceptable reapportionment plan is constitutionally vulnerable where its purpose is to provide districts that would achieve “political fairness” between the political parties.

I

The reapportionment plan for the Connecticut General Assembly became law when published by Connecticut's Secretary of State…