Elections in Congress Congress

How are the House of Representatives and Senate selected? Congress Elections How are the House of Representatives and Senate selected?

House Elections Congress

Elections House Elections House of Representatives Representation is based on population The people must be represented equally “One Man, One Vote” People move – populations grow. So… Districts have to be adjusted to make sure people are represented fairly

Elections House Elections reapportionment redistricting Since a state’s number of seats in the House is based on population, and population changes, every 10 years, we must conduct a census After each Census, the House of Representatives must be changed to deal with population changes reapportionment redistricting

House Elections Reapportionment reapportionment effects: After the Census – the House must be changed reapportionment Moving seats in the House from state to state based on population changes effects: Gives a state more representatives & votes in the House More electoral votes

9 4 4 House Elections Reapportionment # of seats based on share of US population TN is more than 2X size of AR & MS 9 4 Roughly one per 750,000 people 4 What if people make a bad choice and move to Mississippi or Arkansas?

9 4 4 House Elections Reapportionment 2018 – the Titans move to London because Nashville is super lame 2019 – the Grizzlies move to Seattle. So everybody wants to move away from Memphis! 2020 – Census – TN has lost 1.5 million people 9 4 4 TN – over represented MS & AR – under represented

7 5 5 House Elections Reapportionment 2022 Election – Reapportionment has occurred MS & AR have more votes in the House 7 5 MS & AR have more Electoral Votes 5 Tennessee lost 2 Reps & 2 Electoral Votes and one amazing basketball team.

From 2010 Census, for 2012 Election House Elections Reapportionment From 2010 Census, for 2012 Election

From 2000 Census, for 2002 Election House Elections Reapportionment From 2000 Census, for 2002 Election

Redistricting Congress

Redrawing district lines inside each state based on population changes House Elections Redistricting After each Census, the House of Representatives must be changed to deal with population changes redistricting Redrawing district lines inside each state based on population changes Districts must be redone to keep equal numbers of people in each district.

House Elections Redistricting

House Elections Redistricting After population changes are tracked inside a state, the state govts. draw district lines inside the state Gerrymandering: “Cheating” at redistricting Govts. use voting predictions based on demographics to draw lines Lines are drawn in strange shapes to get certain types of voters in the district

House Elections Redistricting Gerrymandering: Cheating at redistricting State legislatures usually draw the district lines. The dominant political party will draw lines to help itself Advantages for a group Lines drawn to make a district made up of mostly conservative or liberal voters This creates a “safe district”; that candidate will always win reelection District can be split to prevent a party from having enough votes to win in a district. Disadvantages for a group

House Elections Redistricting Check out this state! 40% Republican 60% Democrat Fair districts: 2 Reps/3 Dems

House Elections Redistricting Check out this state! 40% Republican 60% Democrat Fair districts: 2 Reps / 3 Dems

Democrats run state legislature.. House Elections Redistricting Check out this state! 40% Republican 60% Democrat Democrats run state legislature.. 5 Dems / 0 Reps

House Elections Redistricting Check out this state! 40% Republican 60% Democrat Republicans run state legislature.. 3 Reps / 2 Dems Minority population rules

House Elections Redistricting MESSING WITH STEVE! 2000-2010 2010-now In 2010, state Republicans in Tennessee gerrymandered the 9th district. 2000-2010 2010-now

House Elections Redistricting Effects of Gerrymandering Districts are less competitive Makes districts safer for incumbents – they’re even more likely to win Increases the costs of campaigns Does not represent the outcomes of the elections

House Elections Redistricting Effects of Gerrymandering (2012) More votes for Democrats 56% of seats for Republicans

House Elections Redistricting Effects of Gerrymandering (2016) Bigger majority for Republicans (57% of seats) 43% of seats for Democrats

House Elections Redistricting Restrictions on gerrymandering Districts must have the same amount of people Lines must be contiguous or all connected (no islands) Lines can’t be drawn solely based upon race

House Elections Redistricting Gerrymandering examples

House Elections Redistricting Worst Gerrymandering examples “Cracking”

House Elections Redistricting Worst Gerrymandering examples “Packing”

House Elections Redistricting Worst Gerrymandering examples

House Elections Redistricting Worst Gerrymandering examples

House Elections Redistricting Worst Gerrymandering examples

House Elections Redistricting Worst Gerrymandering examples

House Elections Redistricting Worst Gerrymandering examples

Bigly Ideas Beliefs & Behaviors

Congress Wrap Up Reapportionment Redistricting Effects of Gerrymandering Limits on Gerrymandering Focus on these things: