Congressional Elections

What is REAPPORTIONMENT??

• Governor and State Legislatures• “Nonpartisan Commissions” (few states)

REDISTRICTING

Representatives per citizensMontana: 1 Rep=902,195

Maryland: 1 Rep=662,000

Wyoming: 1 Rep=493,782

MalapportionmentUnequal number of citizens per district.

State does not redistrict.

Tennessee: 1900-1960– no redistricting.Rural district: 1 seat for 2,300 voters.Urban district: 1 seat for 44,600 voters.

Baker v. Carr (1962): One person; One voteMalapportionment is unconstitutional

GerrymanderingDrawing odd-

shaped district lines to favor a political party, race, or ethnic group.

http://planning.maryland.gov/Redistricting/redistrictingIMap.shtml

Packing and Cracking

Gerrymandering in MarylandPacking or Cracking?

What is the difference? How does this benefit the Democrats?

Districts around the Beltway

Majority-Minority District (Illinois 4th District) Unites 2 Hispanic Neighborhoods.

Shaw v. Reno (1993): Racial Gerrymanders

Unconstitutional When:•Race is the predominant consideration, AND

•When other traditional districting principles are ignored (i.e., compactness).

•“Generally, such districts are extremely irregular and cannot be explained as anything other than an attempt to create a district according to race.”

http://redistricting.state.md.us/maryland/mdredistinfo.htm

Davis v. Bandemer (1986): Partisan Gerrymanders

Unconstitutional When:The plan “substantially interferes” with a minority

party’s ability to participate (not so in this case).

Are majority-minority districts necessary?

Descriptive RepresentationRep reflects

demographic characteristics of district.

Substantive RepresentationRep reflects the

opinions of the district.