Gerrymandering balances two conflicting interests: the state power to apportion voting districts, and the Federal governmentÕs upholding of voting rights. Through analysis of legislative histories, Supreme Court cases, and other documents, I show that the judicial branch has shaped key tenets of the balance-of-powers arrangement through decisions on gerrymandering. Thus, MarshallÕs myth-making continues to affect our representative democracy. This discovery contributes to our understanding of the Myth, Power, and Value theory and further explains its implications for American governance.