American Government and Organization PS1301 Friday, 20 February

Review Descriptive vs. Policy (or Political) Representation Redistricting and Gerrymandering

Gerrymandering Equal populations PartisanIncumbencyRacial

Supreme Court Decisions Baker vs. Carr (1962) launched the “reapportionment revolution”. The suit was brought by urban plaintiffs in Tennessee who challenged their state legislature’s failure to reapportion despite widespread population shifts Malapportionment refers to inequalities in district populations. Court ruled that it violates the 14 th Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection of the laws. “One person one vote”. Wesberry v. Sanders (1964) Decision was extended to U.S. House of Representatives

Consequences Massive Redistricting Further Litigation Democratic advantage (control of state legislatures and the courts) Incumbency advantage

Racial Gerrymandering Voting Rights Act of 1965 restrained states from diluting (cracking) minority votes. Prior to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Mississippi had a majority district (66%) continued to elect white congressman because blacks were denied the right to vote Amendment to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 fostered the creation of majority-minority districts.

Majority Minority Districts Thornburg v Gingles (1986) The decision by the Supreme Court enunciated tests to determine whether a minority’s representation had been compromised Is the group large enough and located in a compact enough area to elect a representative if grouped into a single district? Is the group large enough and located in a compact enough area to elect a representative if grouped into a single district? Is the group politically cohesive? Is the group politically cohesive? Is there evidence of racially polarized voting by the majority against candidates of that group? Is there evidence of racially polarized voting by the majority against candidates of that group?

Majority Minority Districts In creation of 15 new African American districts (total of 32) Creation of 9 new Latino districts (total of 20). All but one of these districts elected a minority North Carolina’s 12th linked black neighborhoods along 160 miles of I85 from Durham to Charlotte.

Racial Gerrmandering

Supreme Court Intervenes Shaw v. Reno (1993) Under a 5-4 ruling, two North Carolina districts were declared--the 1st and the 12th in violation of the equal protection under the law by diluting white votes the districts were criticized for being too irregular--looked like segregation by race. Under a 5-4 ruling, two North Carolina districts were declared--the 1st and the 12th in violation of the equal protection under the law by diluting white votes the districts were criticized for being too irregular--looked like segregation by race.

How the Electoral System Can Reduce Competition Redistricting creates “safe” districts Senate races are more competitive in part because states are more diverse, more balanced party competition Senate races are more competitive in part because states are more diverse, more balanced party competition

Donovan/Bowler – Reforming the Republic Table 3.1 p49 Congressional Elections Example of votes to seats bias from First past the post elections Texas Democrats - %Votes/%Seats 50/7042/6344/57 47/57 Republicans - %Votes/%Seats 48/3056/3754/4353/4349/43 Other - %Votes/%Seats 2/0 4/0

Texas Districts The Debate: Democrats have a majority in the current Texas congressional delegation. State lawmakers failed to redraw the congressional district in Proposals were submitted to state and federal courts and a decision was made in November 2001 to adopt the districts for the 2002 election. districts for the 2002 electiondistricts for the 2002 election The GOP is pushing plans that would give them as many as 21 seats. Link to Save Texas Reps Save Texas RepsSave Texas Reps Current and proposed districtsCurrent and proposed districts: On September 24 both houses of the Texas Legislature voted to adopt the plan. Current and proposed districtsConsequences

Texas Redistricting ( ) Link to interactive mapinteractive map

The 17 th District Charlie Stenholm Charlie Stenholm (Democrat) representing the district west of Dallas since 1979 (and a graduate of Texas Tech). Charlie Stenholm Votes reflect conservative values of the cattle, cotton, and oil industry. He opposes abortion, fights for balanced budgets, and voted for the impeachment of Bill Clinton. “They did everything they could to bust my political base. They drew my farm and where I grew up in the Amarillo district, and they drew Abilene, where I live now, into the Lubbock district”…When we Democrats controlled the legislature, sure we protected Democrats. But we didn’t do harm to the Republicans who were in office. This thing today is a whole different order of magnitude.” (Toobin, “The Great Election Grab” New Yorker Magazine, Dec. 8, 2003). The Great Election GrabThe Great Election Grab

Incumbency Advantage

Decline in Competition

Incumbent Victory Margins

Explanations for Incumbency Advantage Electoral Rules (which we have discussed) Name Recognition Greater resources for staff, travel, local offices, and communication In 2001, these allowances ranged from $980,699 to $1,469,930 per legislator in the House; $1,926,296 to $3,301,071 in the Senate In 2001, these allowances ranged from $980,699 to $1,469,930 per legislator in the House; $1,926,296 to $3,301,071 in the SenateCasework Campaign contributions Hard work