Congressional Apportionment

Reapportionment & Redistricting Census every 10 years-count population Constitutional requirement House of Representatives Redistricting Allocation of seats in the House in proportion to the population of the U.S. Redistricting the redrawing of Congressional district boundary lines within the state by the state legislatures Supreme Court ruled that districts must be equal in populations- “one person, one vote”

Gerrymandering Deliberately drawing boundary lines to advantage one group over another for obtaining a partisan or factional advantage Goal is to shape the voting district in such a way as to maximize their party’s chances of winning state and national contests.

Minority-Majority Districts The federal government encouraged a type of gerrymandering that made possible the election of a minority representative from a minority-majority district. Supreme Court ruled this unconstitutional as violating the “one person-one vote” precedent 2001 the Court did uphold this practice in North Carolina’s 19th because of insufficient evidence of gerrymandering.

Perks and Privileges of Congress Franking privilege- signature for free mailing to constituents Permanent professional staff For legislation and casework Privileges and immunities under the law-free from arrest when going to and from legislative session Speech or debate clause

Congressional Caucuses Informal groups that allow members with the same interest to get together and even advance legislation often times without regard to party Examples-Democratic and Republican caucus, Potato growers, tobacco growers, Black, women, etc

Committee Structure Standing Committee House and Senate Permanent subject matter committee Examples- Veterans, Armed forces, Foreign relations, banking, agriculture, commerce and transportation Handle most of the legislative mark-up and changes in proposed legislation (bills)

Select Committee Committee put together from one or both houses of Congress to investigate some action or wrongdoing Examples- Watergate, Whitewater, baseball steroid use, Wall St. economic crisis, etc Not a permanent committee

Joint Committee Committee on a subject so crucial that from the very beginning of the legislation the House and Senate will work together for passage of the bill. Example- Budget, emergency bail-out bill, tax bills

Conference Committee All legislation must pass both the House and Senate in the exact same form. When both the House and Senate pass similar legislation, the conference committee will get together to create a bill with identical language and intent. It is made up of both House and Senate members When they finalize the bill both the House and Senate must vote on the Conference committee revised legislation (bill) before it goes to the president.

Committees http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108914.html

House Leadership Speaker of the House Presides over meetings of the House Appoints members of joint committees and conference committees Schedules legislation for floor action Decides points of order and interpreting the rules with the advise of the House parliamentarian. Refers bills and resolutions to the appropriate standing committees of the House

Leaders and Whips Majority/Minority leaders are chosen by their parties Recognized first in debate on the floor Mobilize party to support legislation proposed by the party members Whips- maintain communications within the party “round up” the party members and enlist their support