Timeline
A chronological record of commits to America's democratic infrastructure: foundations laid, patches applied, exploits discovered, and rollbacks executed.
Constitutional Convention
Original system architecture established. Electoral College, census, 3/5 compromise encoded.
First Census
Initial population enumeration. 3.9 million counted over 18 months.
First Gerrymander
Governor Elbridge Gerry signs Massachusetts redistricting bill. Term 'gerrymander' coined.
13th Amendment
Abolishes slavery. 3/5 clause becomes obsolete but structural advantages remain.
15th Amendment
Prohibits denying vote based on race. Immediately circumvented by Southern states.
Jim Crow Era
Poll taxes, literacy tests, grandfather clauses systematically disenfranchise Black voters.
Hollerith Machine
First algorithmic census processing via punch cards. Technology becomes IBM.
17th Amendment
Direct election of senators. Removes state legislature selection.
Failed Reapportionment
Congress refuses to reallocate House seats after census due to urban/rural tensions.
Permanent Apportionment Act
House frozen at 435 seats. Automatic reapportionment every decade.
Baker v. Carr
Supreme Court rules redistricting is justiciable. 'One person, one vote' established.
Voting Rights Act
Federal preclearance required for election changes in covered jurisdictions.
26th Amendment
Voting age lowered to 18. Last amendment to expand voting rights.
Buckley v. Valeo
Political spending = protected speech. Limits on independent expenditures struck down.
Citizens United
Corporate political spending unlimited. Super PACs and dark money explosion follows.
Shelby County v. Holder
Preclearance formula struck down. States immediately pass new voting restrictions.
Rucho v. Common Cause
Partisan gerrymandering declared non-justiciable. Federal courts cannot intervene.
Dobbs v. Jackson
Roe v. Wade overturned. Demonstrates instability of rights via interpretation.