burns richardson argued february decided april together cravalho et al richardson et al abe et al richardson et also appeal hawaii constitution provides three small counties elect state senators fourth county oahu state population elects apportionment authorized constitution oahu allocated seats state house representatives representatives elected districts apportioned basis number registered voters suit brought federal district attacking apportionment plan district held senate house apportionment unconstitutional directed legislature submit voters question convention amend constitution motion intervening legislators modified order require enactment three statutes interim senate apportionment plan using registered voters basis submitted use election constitutional amendment embodying pertinent provisions interim plan submission voters election submission electorate question calling constitutional convention senate apportionment plan adopted legislature allocated senators oahu basis registered voters senators elected five districts district expressly approving use registered voters basis disapproved plan failure create districts reinstated earlier order requiring immediate resort convention method held permitting legislative action district allowed legislative review entire apportionment scheme without restricting available choices interim permanent plans pp proposed senate reapportionment plan together existing house apportionment constitutes interim arrangement shown fall short federal standards pp equal protection clause require least one house bicameral legislature consist districts legislative choice districts subject constitutional challenge upon showing plan designed operate minimize cancel voting strength racial political groups showing made pp although houses legislature must apportioned substantially population basis equal protection clause require use total population figures derived federal census standard measure substantial population equivalency pp hawaii registered voters basis depending part upon political activity chance factors permissible population basis may used long produces distribution legislators substantially different result use permissible population basis pp hawaii special population problems including large concentrations military transients centered oahu suggest state citizen population rather total population appropriate comparative guide pp registered voters basis acceptable interim plan view district conclusion apportionment achieved use substantially approximated occurred state citizen population guide pp district directed remand enter order adopting proposed senate reapportionment plan plus existing house apportionment interim legislative apportionment hawaii retaining jurisdiction proceedings may appropriate general elections held bertram kambara deputy attorney general hawaii dennis lyons argued cause appellant appellees nos briefs bert kobayashi attorney general nobuki kamida deputy attorney general thurman arnold john rigby james funaki argued cause appellants appellees nos brief eugene lau yukio naito argued cause appellants appellees nos brief kazuhisa abe appellant pro se robert kimura robert dodge masaji marumoto argued cause filed briefs appellees three cases mr dodge brief appellee richardson william richardson appellee pro se richard sharpless filed brief harold roberts amicus curiae urging affirmance justice brennan delivered opinion reapportionment case brought district hawaii residents qualified voters city county honolulu appellees three appeals consolidated alleged hawaii legislative apportionment unconstitutional decisions reynolds sims companion cases william richardson lieutenant governor hawaii also appellee three appeals named defendant capacity state officer responsible supervising state elections john burns governor hawaii appellant intervened party plaintiff members state house representatives appellants members state senate appellants intervened parties defendant hawaii constitution adopted put effect upon admission statehood state divided four major counties referred state constitution basic areas county made group islands separated counties wide deep ocean waters principal island city county honolulu populous county island oahu state industrial center principal tourist attraction site many federal military establishments located state state population lived three counties primarily rural agricultural hawaii county maui county kauai county apportionment article state constitution framed assure three small counties choose controlling majority state senate population center oahu control state house representatives thus art iii state constitution apportions senate among six fixed senatorial districts assigning specified number seats fifteen senate seats controlling majority allocated among hawaii kauai maui counties seats assigned oahu alteration apportionment made difficult provision constitutional amendment altering representation senatorial district senate shall become effective unless shall also approved majority votes tallied upon question majority counties hawaii art xv state house representatives hand state constitution establishes representative districts oahu requires governor apportion body among districts basis number voters registered first apportionment occurred prior statehood based registration figures territorial election produced representative districts five districts allocated representatives controlling majority oahu governor required reapportion state decennially duty may enforced mandamus form state apportionment scheme first attacked hawaii within month decided reynolds sims refused pass validity apportionment time noted imminence election stated belief consistent hawaii constitution judicial proceedings await legislative proposals constitutional amendment constitutional convention guntert richardson haw compare reynolds sims special legislative session called governor consider reapportionment failed act suit brought august convened required interim relief denied view pendency elections hearings set january published first decision order february supp order declared provisions apportionment plan contained hawaii constitution valid equal protection clause except mentioned provisions relating apportionment state senate affirmatively declared invalid unconstitutional february order district decided fashion reapportionment plan senate instruct legislature reapportion senate propose constitutional amendments purpose instead directed legislature submit electorate immediate special election question shall convention propose revision amendments constitution legislature also directed establish convention procedures according timetable set retained jurisdiction purposes including reapportioning senate event negative vote question failure convention adopt suitable amendment rejection electorate amendment adopted convention chose convention route legislative route two reasons hawaii constitution elections necessary adoption amendments proposed constitutional convention may held special basis legislative proposals hand may submitted general election starting machinery necessary convention hoped valid permanent plan presented electorate adopted next general election held second reason doubted legislature able agree amendment proposal reapportioning senate view failure previously called legislative special session act special elections necessary order however entailed substantial expense motion intervening legislators showed substantial progress towards legislative proposal amendment march modified order suggested parties suspended february order instead required legislature enact three separate statutes turning regular legislative business one statute propose interim senate apportionment plan using registered voters basis submitted approved adopted plan use general election second statute propose constitutional amendment embodying pertinent provisions interim plan submitted people approval election third statute submit question calling constitutional convention electorate general election three statutes enacted one measures us proposed interim plan apportionment senate hawaii sess laws act plan followed pattern house apportionment established eight senatorial districts five oahu required order senators apportioned basis registered voters using figures derived registration general elections oahu allocated senators controlling majority total apportionment scheme resulted enactment oahu districts either house senate distribution registered voters oahu oahu representative districts two six representatives five senatorial districts either three four senators hawaii county single senatorial district represented three senators five representative districts four choosing single representative fifth electing three maui county single senatorial district electing two senators two representative districts one electing four single representative kauai county single senatorial single representative district electing one senator three representatives thus oahu total population elect senate senators house representatives new senate apportionment scheme submitted immediately upon passage opinion order april district disapproved reinstated provision earlier order requiring immediate resort convention method supp expressly approved use registered voters measure population disapproval based legislative decision create senatorial districts oahu merely increase number senatorial districts island two five contended apportionment failed meet standard reynolds sims use districts use registered voters apportionment base offend equal protection clause may governor filed notice appeal certain provisions two orders thereafter participating senators representatives also filed notices appeal parts orders noted probable jurisdiction consolidated appeals argument set aside vacate orders remand proceedings consistent opinion parties concede invalidity provisions art iii apportioning senate basis geography rather population provision art xv requiring majority vote electorate majority counties amend senatorial apportionment established constitution district concluded matter state law house senate apportionment plans severable compare lucas colorado general assembly even maryland committee tawes holds reviewing apportionment plan must consider scheme whole implicit principle proposition body creating apportionment plan compliance judicial order ordinarily left free devise proposals apportionment overall basis governor argues district committed fundamental error preventing hawaii legislature engaging deliberations reason alone legislative product inevitably tinged constitutional error agree district decided permit legislative action made clear hawaii legislature propose modification house well senate plan interim apportionment adopted order proposals permanent reapportionment constitutional amendment approach enabled legislature channel efforts permanent rather temporary change indeed failure invite thoroughgoing consideration particularly unfortunate connection requirement order march hawaii legislature prepare constitutional amendments permanent apportionment plan directing permanent plan incorporate interim reapportionment plan restricting choices available legislature adopting interim plan put significant restraints legislature deliberations permanent apportionment seemed limit legislature consideration senate apportionment also require registered voters basis used apportionment constraints together district action explicitly sustaining constitutionality house apportionment order february may limited opportunities legislature construct total scheme apportionment best suited state needs decision reynolds sims emphasized legislative reapportionment primarily matter legislative consideration determination judicial relief becomes appropriate legislature fails reapportion according federal constitutional requisites timely fashion adequate opportunity point reached state freedom choice devise substitutes apportionment plan found unconstitutional either whole part restricted beyond clear commands equal protection clause dealing however interim plan state remains free adopt plans apportionment present interim plan remain effect longer time necessary adopt permanent plan general elections imminent election machinery must put operation proceedings completed context question embarrassment state legislative deliberations may put aside present purposes may treated together existing house apportionment new overall proposal interim apportionment question us whether viewing resulting plan entirety without regard history falls short federal constitutional standards conclude reasons stated existing house apportionment together constitute interim legislative apportionment shown fall short federal standards direct district enter order appropriate adopt plan legislative apportionment applicable election thereafter constitutional permanent plan adopted constitutional deficiencies interim plan shown another interim plan reapportionment hawaii legislature suggested legislature approved ii april opinion began analysis terms interim senate apportionment plan effect upon representation state scheme representation whole district concerned population disparities however considered difference representational effectiveness legislative districts informal memorandum circulated among parties early april district advised legislature doubts concerning validity senatorial districting plan saying believe senate redistricted single senatorial districts although may approve districts legislature affirmatively show substantial reasons therefor may well valid reasons one two districts neighboring islands perceive justification whatsoever single member districts island oahu particularly heavily populated areas thereof equal protection clause require least one house bicameral state legislature consist legislative districts see fortson dorsey requirements reynolds sims met apportionment schemes including districts constitute invidious discrimination shown designedly otherwise constituency apportionment scheme circumstances particular case operate minimize cancel voting strength racial political elements voting population may invidious effect easily shown contrast facts fortson districts large relation total number legislators districts appropriately subdistricted assure distribution legislators resident entire district districts characterize houses bicameral legislature rather one demonstration particular scheme effects invidious result must appear evidence record cf mcgowan maryland demonstration made relying conjecture effects districting rather demonstrated fact acted manner appropriate body responsible drawing districting plan speculations supply evidence districting designed invidious effect necessary judgment unconstitutionality districting indeed better insisted legislature justify proposal except insofar thus reserved ultimate decision constitutionality vel non legislature assign reasons choice district decided properly impose senate apportionment allow legislature frame one judgments exclusively legislature make subject constitutional challenge upon demonstration interim apportionment although made proper population basis designed operate minimize cancel voting strength racial political elements voting population iii dispute use distribution according registered voters basis hawaiian apportionment arises sizable differences results produced distribution contrast produced distribution according state total population measured federal census figures oahu share hawaii total population share persons actually registered basis total population oahu assigned members house representatives basis registered voters entitled representatives probably uneven distribution military residents largely unregistered differences among various districts oahu even striking example total population basis oahu ninth tenth representative districts entitled representatives fifteenth sixteenth representative districts entitled eight registered voter basis however ninth tenth districts claim six representatives fifteenth sixteenth districts entitled holding reynolds sims characterized cases decided day houses bicameral state legislature must apportioned substantially population basis start proposition equal protection clause require use total population figures derived federal census standard substantial population equivalency measured although total population figures fact basis comparison case others decided day discussion carefully left open question population referred several points discussed substantial equivalence terms voter population citizen population making distinction acceptability test test based total population indeed wmca lomenzo decided day treated apportionment based upon citizen population presenting problems different apportionments using total population measure neither reynolds sims decision suggested required include aliens transients temporary residents persons denied vote conviction crime apportionment base legislators distributed compliance equal protection clause measured decision include exclude group involves choices nature representation shown constitutionally founded reason interfere unless choice one constitution forbids carrington rash resulting apportionment base offends constitutional bar compliance rule established reynolds sims measured thereby use registered voter actual voter basis presents additional problem basis depends upon criteria govern state citizenship also upon extent political activity eligible register vote thus susceptible improper influences political power might able perpetuate underrepresentation groups constitutionally entitled participate electoral process perpetuate ghost prior malapportionment moreover fluctuations number registered voters given election may sudden substantial caused fortuitous factors peculiarly controversial election issue particularly popular candidate even weather conditions ellis mayor city council baltimore cir effects must particularly matter concern case hawaii apportionment registration figures derived single election made controlling long years view considerations hold present apportionment satisfies equal protection clause record found produced distribution legislators substantially different resulted use permissible population basis district noted constitutional convention discussed three possible measures total population state citizen population number registered voters considering state house representatives apportioned apportionment organic act basis citizen population proved difficult administer statistics readily available total population disfavored census tracts determined reported necessarily comport traditional local boundaries registered voters chosen reasonable approximation citizen total population readily determinable conveniently broken election district measure total population somewhat favored islands oahu fair say convention report reflected citizen population much total population basis registered voters standard compared hawaii special population problems might well led conclude state citizen population rather total population basis comparison district referred continuing presence hawaii large numbers military hawaii become military bastion entire pacific military population state fluctuates violently asiatic spots trouble arise disappear total population acceptable criterion upon legislative representation based hawaii grossly absurd disastrous results flow similarly referred distortion census figures attributable large number tourists continually flow state census purposes initially least counted part hawaii census population omitted tourists military tend highly concentrated oahu indeed largely confined particular regions island total population figures may thus constitute substantially distorted reflection distribution state citizenry finding registered voters distribution approximate total population distribution insufficient establish constitutional deficiency enough appears distribution registered voters approximates distribution state citizens another permissible population base state citizen population figures hard obtain extrapolate comparison results obtained use figures results obtained using registered voter figures difficult district found military population oahu distribution island sufficient explain already noted differences total population registered voters apportionments among hawaii four counties among oahu representative districts district noted nothing state constitution hawaii statutes per se excludes members armed forces establishing residence hawaii thereafter becoming eligible vote finds scheme hawaii constitution statutes implementing exercise franchise aimed disenfranchising military group citizens issue raised proceedings military men excluded improperly apportionment base moreover district stressed hawaii constitution laws actively encourage voter registration high proportion possible voting population registered strong drives bring vote resulted vote registered voters elections omitted circumstances find demonstrated error district conclusion apportionment achieved use registered voters basis substantially approximated appeared state citizen population guide understood deciding validity registered voters basis measure established time circumstances hawaii elsewhere district careful disclaim holding perfect basis agree may well reapportionment frequently every years perhaps every four eight years better avoid hazards use use presidential election year figures might assure high level participation reduce likelihood varying degrees local interest outcome election produce different patterns political activity state measures system permanent personal registration might also contribute stability accuracy registered voters figure apportionment basis future litigation may reveal infirmities temporary permanent established present record hold view interim use hawaii registered voter basis record fall short constitutional standards iv conclusion interim apportionment apply election requires provisions order february mandating immediate special election question calling constitutional convention remain inoperative imminence elections precludes action pending event question remains role district bringing permanent reapportionment promptly reasonably may election believe retain jurisdiction case take proceedings may appropriate event permanent reapportionment made effective note electorate vote election question whether constitutional convention convened see reason however newly elected legislature either compelled propose amendments precluded proposing legislature doubtless find reason enough act fact district retain jurisdiction cause take action may appropriate pending adoption permanent reapportionment complies constitutional standards action may include inquiry constitutionality present plan operation consideration substitute interim plans apportioning house senate might submitted legislature event failure proposals constitutional amendment judicial apportionment present plan shown constitutionally deficient acceptable substitute forthcoming district accordingly directed remand enter appropriate order adopting existing house apportionment interim legislative apportionment hawaii retaining jurisdiction cause purposes judgment shall issue forthwith vacated remanded footnotes kalawao hansen disease treatment area considered fifth county purposes however residents considered part maui county political purposes vote county state legislators therefore treat four major counties basic areas opinion state population divided among four counties follows city county honolulu hawaii county maui county kauai county population small outlying islands oahu comprise city county honolulu negligible therefore refer county hereafter oahu district found proviso specifically inserted order freeze representation senate gave rural counties amounted right veto attempt change representative makeup senate supp hawaii uses method equal proportions distribute legislators first among four counties among districts within county method used apportioning members house representatives congress complex mathematically determines priority order legislators assigned among various competing districts system discussed schmeckebier method equal proportions law contemp prob use method necessarily result constitutional apportionment distribution legislators rather method distributing legislators must satisfy demands equal protection clause claim made however effect applying method hawaii case deny person equal protection laws creating representative districts substantially unequal size doubted whether legislature authority state law adopt interim apportionment plan view decision guntert richardson supra hawaii constitution authorizes legislature propose constitutional amendments electorate either upon passage vote houses legislature upon passage majority vote houses two successive legislative sessions hawaii constitution also authorizes legislature submit people question calling constitutional convention either general election special election called purpose hawaii art xv paragraph order provided interfere convening conducting business third state legislature regular session save except parties herein hereby enjoined taking final action upon legislation except actions necessary organize respective houses session appropriate funds session legislation pursuant provision article xv said constitution providing submission people hawaii special election held later august question shall convention propose revision amendments constitution acts required law implement legislation enacted law legislation shall also provide vote constitutional affirmative special election shall held later september elect delegates convention manner provided constitution legislation may include legislative action article xv section paragraph constitution legislation shall provide convention convene later october conclude deliberation time submit proposed constitutional amendments electorate hawaii special election held later january including limiting convention thereto provisions therein reapportioning senate hawaii constitutionally valid basis legislation shall also appropriate make available funds expenses elections convention hawaii sess laws act provides submission electorate general election question whether constitutional convention called hawaii sess laws proposing constitutional amendment form interim plan passed majority vote senate hence must acted submitted people adoption rejection see supra view constraints placed legislature adopting proposal think district remand make attempt require action measure see part infra method equal proportions used apportioning senate well house see supra may justice douglas stayed action pending determination appeals understood agreeing district insofar may rested decision view use method equal proportions saved plan constitutional challenge based reynolds sims see supra notices timely filed february opinion formally entered april second decision dated entered april notices appeal filed may whether judged date entry hark fed rule civ proc fact order incorporated decision february finally made effective decision april crescent amusement appeals decision announced february timely overlooked fact limitations suggested legislators nevertheless consistently maryland committee tawes district indicated legislators possessed broad scope inquiry said opinion february open constitutional convention suggested might appropriately considered convention whether hawaii continue use registered voters apportionment basis change state citizen population eligible vote voter population citizen population total population whether better one houses legislature composed single member representative districts justify one houses composed whole part floterial districts whether decennial reapportionment either houses made june year preceding federal census case date soon taking census whether representative district lines remain substantially whether ultimately redistricting manner census tracts representative districts coordinated statistical purposes necessary implement changes made basis reapportionment reapportioning redistricting senate houses overlooked fact valid makeup senate must positively complement makeup house provide vital equality voter representation houses legislature seemingly forgot schemes districting house conjoined must offer compensating advantages voters voters within representative district senate house voters throughout state perforce must overlap representation several senate house districts overlap must concentrate intensify voting power single district point voters therein disproportionate representational advantage voters state appellant burns concedes brief case hawaii house multimember districts extensive proofs put details submergence minorities may example merit argument encouraging block voting districts diminish opportunity minority party win seats effects must demonstrated evidence stated opinion legislature proffered justifications districts tend cause senators therefrom concerned localized issues ignore broader issues facing state therefore might fragment approach problems programs detriment state historically members house represented smaller constituencies members senate tradition experience proved balance desirable districts increase significance individual vote focusing attention broad spectrum major community problems opposed limited local concern set districts compound technical intricate problem drawing boundaries population shifts drastically affect boundaries many smaller districts greater degree found larger districts citing oahu population boom subdivision development reject suggestion districts arbitrarily invidiously defined fact district boundaries may drawn way minimizes number contests present incumbents establish invidiousness find support suggestion present wide variances size among oahu representative districts distribution governed population shifts occurred since district boundaries first defined initial apportionment six representative districts comprising fifth senatorial district contained two three representatives two geographically large relatively rural districts three urban districts four representative districts comprising fourth senatorial district contained three six representatives districts comprised heart residential honolulu understandably compact whether one surmises drafters leaving room expansion less populous districts drawing district lines function size well population irrationality appears distribution relevant note hawaii legislature dominated districts houses statehood feature thus originate senate plan consideration figure calculated using figures apportionment oahu assigned representatives basis registration figures thus ninth tenth districts contained oahu population registered voters fifteenth sixteenth districts island population contained island registered voters wmca lomenzo maryland committee tawes thus spoke right citizen equal representation vote weighted equally citizens reynolds sims also said practical impossibility arrange legislative districts one identical number residents citizens voters overriding objective must substantial equality population among various districts vote citizen approximately equal weight citizen state davis mann rejected argument underrepresentation three political subdivisions virginia constitutionally justifiable since allegedly resulted part fact areas contain large numbers military personnel discrimination class individuals merely nature employment without shown constitutionally impermissible see also carrington rash exclusion meeting state residence requirements however different principles apply difference exclusion military personnel exclusion meeting state residence requirements difference arbitrary constitutionally permissible classification buckley hoff supp ellis disapproved registered voters basis apportioning governing council baltimore maryland appeals held basis permissible yielded results substantially approximating obtained use total population base example one point world war ii military population oahu constituted population territory total population used situation permanent residents living districts including military bases might substantially greater voting power electors districts including bases indeed view possibility appellant burns concedes nontransient figure well total population might used apportionment purposes appellant burns urges apportionment base house registered voter figures general election infected exclusion hawaii territory registration governed ed provided person shall allowed vote territory reason army navy reason attached troops service restriction imposed state violate equal protection clause carrington rash statute longer applies effect persists house apportionment number registered voters districts oahu major military bases located increased twice much registration oahu districts three times much state population since reapportionment house registered voters basis work substantial realignment state representative districts shown principally military men vote denied rather simple population shifts immediate interim adjustment house apportionment might merited time permit necessary hearings elections requiring hearings certainly within authority continuing jurisdiction thereafter district found figure even asserted error statistics corrected figure exceeds note supra attempt made show registration percentages among residents oahu substantially lower among resident groups unclear extent statistics reflect military pay scales thus may unfair representation state citizen registration patterns moreover substantial effect submerging political voice group appears course issue may hearings held exercise continuing jurisdiction justice harlan concurring result judicial responsibility requires see things bow authority reynolds sims despite original continuing belief decision constitutionally wrong see dissenting opinion et seq feel compelled concur disposition case even reynolds however agree rationale elaborated part iii opinion hawaii registered voter base sustained read today opinion registered voter figures acceptable basis apportionment long substantially approximate results reached type scheme apportionment many difficult questions judgment relating policy administrative convenience must resolved state determining statistics use establishing apportionment plan read reynolds precluding state apportioning legislature rational basis consistent reynolds philosophy people interests must basis state legislative apportionment think apportionment basis registered voters rational system type therefore permissible reynolds regardless whether particular case approximates kind population apportionment justice stewart concurring judgment time reynolds sims decided expressed belief equal protection clause demands two basic attributes plan state legislative apportionment first demands light state characteristics needs plan must rational one secondly demands plan must permit systematic frustration majority electorate state lucas colorado general assembly pp dissenting opinion time changed views still believe misconceived requirements equal protection clause reynolds sims companion cases long cases remain law must bow even decisions surely room least much flexibility today accords hawaii accordingly concur judgment