Sponsor Statement for HJR 36

Single Member Districts

HJR 36 proposes to amend Article 6 and Article 14 of the Alaska Constitution.

Article 6 addresses legislative reapportionment. I am proposing changes to reflect rulings by the U.S. and Alaska Supreme Courts, and to enshrine single member legislative districts in the constitution. The U.S. Supreme Court rulings, Baker v. Carr, 396 U.S. 267, issued in 1962, and Reynolds V. Sims, 377 U.S. 567, issued in 1964, established the so-called "one person, one vote" apportionment rule. The result of these decisions is that all state legislative bodies in the United States are apportioned on the basis of population. The Alaska Constitution, as originally written, bases senate districts partly on population, and partly on geography. The Alaska Supreme Court rulings, Wade v. Nolan, Alaska 414 P.2d 689, in 1966, Egan v. Hammond, Alaska, 502 P.2d 856, in 1972, and Groh v. Egan, Alaska 526 P.2d 863, 1974 establish an equal basis for both civilian and military population.

Section 4 of HJR 36 establishes single member legislative (House) districts. This change essentially "constitutionalizes" the status quo. Single member districts have proven to work well here in Alaska, and in a number of other states. Along with Alaska, several other states have shifted from multi, to single member districts.

Finally, Section 9 of HJR 36 repeals Article 14 of the Alaska Constitution. Article 14 sets out the originial reapportionment schedule, which is now obsolete.