The House of Representatives population-based representation Article I, Section 2.

The House of The House of RepresentativesRepresentatives

population-based representationpopulation-based representation

Article I, Section 2Article I, Section 2

Size and TermsSize and Terms

435 members – determined by Congress435 members – determined by CongressRepresentation apportioned (distributed) Representation apportioned (distributed)

based on populationbased on populationRepresentatives serve 2 year termsRepresentatives serve 2 year termsNo limit on the number of termsNo limit on the number of termsEvery state is guaranteed at least one seat Every state is guaranteed at least one seat

in the House of Representatives, no in the House of Representatives, no matter how small their population is.matter how small their population is.

Small States with 1 Small States with 1 RepresentativeRepresentative

AlaskaAlaskaDelawareDelawareMontanaMontanaNorth DakotaNorth DakotaSouth DakotaSouth DakotaVermontVermontWyomingWyoming

How does the government know How does the government know how many people live in each how many people live in each

state?state?

Census: Constitution requires the Census: Constitution requires the government to count all of the people in government to count all of the people in the country every 10 yearsthe country every 10 years

After the census, Congress decides the After the census, Congress decides the number of representatives each state will number of representatives each state will have.have.

ReapportionmentReapportionment

After every census, the representation is After every census, the representation is reapportioned or redistributedreapportioned or redistributed

Number set at 435 - The Reapportionment Number set at 435 - The Reapportionment Act of 1929Act of 1929

2010 Census last one -309,183,4632010 Census last one -309,183,463The number of people counted is divided by The number of people counted is divided by

435 ~ 710,767 people per representative435 ~ 710,767 people per representative2013 – 316,094,000 ~ 726,6532013 – 316,094,000 ~ 726,653The US grows – number of people each The US grows – number of people each

representative speaks for grows.representative speaks for grows.

2013 Congress2013 CongressPA – 12,763,536 / 20 = 738,176PA – 12,763,536 / 20 = 738,176CA – 38,041,430 / 55 = 691,662CA – 38,041,430 / 55 = 691,662WY - 576,412 / 3 = 192,137WY - 576,412 / 3 = 192,137

2013 House of Representatives2013 House of RepresentativesPA – 12,763,536 / 18 = 709,085PA – 12,763,536 / 18 = 709,085CA – 38,041,430 / 53 = 717,763CA – 38,041,430 / 53 = 717,763WY - 576,412 / 1 = 576,412WY - 576,412 / 1 = 576,412

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GerrymanderingGerrymanderingDistricts with unusual shapesDistricts with unusual shapesGerrymandering draws districts to favor Gerrymandering draws districts to favor

one political party - governor’s one political party - governor’s responsibilityresponsibility

The original gerrymander was created in The original gerrymander was created in 1812 by Massachusetts 1812 by Massachusetts

governor Elbridge Gerry, governor Elbridge Gerry, who crafted a district for who crafted a district for political purposes that looked political purposes that looked like a salamander.like a salamander.

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How has Congress regulated redistricting?How has Congress regulated redistricting?

Voting Rights Act 1965 – Fed reg of electionsVoting Rights Act 1965 – Fed reg of elections In 1967, Congress requiring all U.S. reps. to be In 1967, Congress requiring all U.S. reps. to be

elected from single member elected from single member Congress in 1982 amended Voting Rights Act-Congress in 1982 amended Voting Rights Act-

protect voting rights of racial minorities in protect voting rights of racial minorities in redistricting. redistricting.

states have great leeway to draw districts, states have great leeway to draw districts, Cracking – diluting voting baseCracking – diluting voting basePacking – keeping voting base in one district Packing – keeping voting base in one district

How Has the Supreme Court regulated How Has the Supreme Court regulated redistricting?redistricting?

Baker v Carr 1962Baker v Carr 1962Wesbury v Sanders 1964Wesbury v Sanders 1964

One man, one vote: each voting district must be One man, one vote: each voting district must be of similar size – within 10%of similar size – within 10%

Bush v Vera 1996Bush v Vera 1996Struck down race based districts as Struck down race based districts as

unconstitutional - race can not be the controlling unconstitutional - race can not be the controlling factor in drawing district linesfactor in drawing district lines

Hunt v Cromartie 2001Hunt v Cromartie 2001Race can be one of the mix of factors that shape Race can be one of the mix of factors that shape

the processthe process

Texas having difficulty complying with the Texas having difficulty complying with the Voting Rights Act 1965 & amendmentsVoting Rights Act 1965 & amendments

Not legal to dilute power of minority groupsNot legal to dilute power of minority groupsPreclearance – districts with history of Preclearance – districts with history of

voter discrimination must get permission voter discrimination must get permission before approving any changes related to before approving any changes related to voting. Section 5 VRAvoting. Section 5 VRA

Section 5- Constitutional?Section 5- Constitutional?http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/26/us/su

preme-court-ruling.html?_r=0

Try your hand at RedistrictingTry your hand at Redistricting

http://wxxi.org/curriculum/redistrict/interactive/simulation/index.html#

http://www.annenbergclassroom.org/page/one-person-one-vote

Congressional ElectionsCongressional Elections

Held the first Tuesday after the first Held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of an even Monday in November of an even numbered yearnumbered year

Senate - continuous bodySenate - continuous bodyHouse - up for election every even House - up for election every even

numbered yearnumbered year

DistrictsDistricts

Single-member districtsSingle-member districtsPeople in a district vote for their People in a district vote for their

representativerepresentativeAt-large?At-large?

People in a state vote for all representatives People in a state vote for all representatives in that statein that state