Congressional Districts

113 th Congress
• 200 Democrats
• 232 Republicans
• 3 Vacant

Why do some states have more members of the House than others?

Population
• Virginia has about 2.5% of the U.S. population
• VA has about 2.5% of the
435 members of the
House (435)

Reapportionment
• Distribution of congressional seats after a census.
• Why?

Redistricting
• Redrawing of congressional districts within a state.
• Why?

Who redraws these districts?
• State legislatures
• Subject to approval by
Governor
• Subject to review by DOJ and the courts

Malapportionment
When districts are redrawn and are of unequal size and population.

Baker v. Carr (1960)
• SC ruled that voters can challenge the
Constitutionality of voting districts in court

Wesberry v. Sanders (1963)
• SC ordered that districts be drawn so that populations were roughly equal
• “One man, one vote”

Gerrymandering

Gerrymandering
• Drawing of boundaries to benefit a political party, incumbent, or group

Gerrymandering
Packing
Lumping opposition voters in one area
Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall
Cracking
Splitting up groups of voters so they do not constitute a majority in any district

Gerrymandering
• Top ten most gerrymandered districts in the country

Shaw v. Reno (1993)
• NC District 12
• Redistricting should be done under strict scrutiny of Equal Protection Clause and Voting Rights Act.
Copyright 2006 Prentice Hall

Redistricting Requirements
• Compact
• Contiguous
• Equal in population
• Avoid racial bias