Congress Theories of Representation

Redistricting Reapportionment vs. Redistricting Gerrymandering – Political gerrymandering – favoring the party in power in the state legislature – Racial gerrymandering – efforts to increase or limit the influence of racial minorities

Racial Gerrymandering “Cracking” – Drawing district lines so that the minority racial group is diffuse, spread out over many districts, so they have no influence in any one district “Packing” – Drawing district lines to that the minority racial group is concentrated into one or two districts, with no influence in any of the others

Redistricting: A Modern Gerrymander

History of North Carolina’s 12 th Congressional District

Congressional Organization: The Two Chambers of Our Bicameral Legislature The House of Representatives (“The House”) – 435 members – 2-year terms – Members represent a distinct geographic district – D.C., American Samoa, Guam, and U.S. Virgin Islands (delegates) – Puerto Rico (Resident Commissioner – 4 yrs) – Northern Mariana Islands – nothing! Senate – 100 members – 6-year terms – Members represent entire state (2 per)

Who Represents Us? House – UNT is in the 26 th Congressional District for Texas – Michael Burgess, R Senate – Kay Bailey Hutchison, R ( ?) Reelected in 2006 – John Cornyn, R ( ?) Up for election in 2008

Marking Time in Congress A “Congress” is a two-year period Consists of two sessions (each one year) Right now, 110 th Congress, 1 st Session

Herding Cats “Congress” = 535 elected officials + thousands of staff members How do they get anything done? Structure: – Party Structure / Leadership – Committee Structure

Party Leadership in the House Selected by the House Conference (Reps) and Caucus (Dems) – all House members of that party Majority Party (Democrats) – Speaker of the House – Nancy Pelosi, CA – Majority Leader – Steny Hoyer, MD – Majority Whip – James Clyburn, SC Minority Party – Minority Leader – John Boehner, OH – Minority Whip – Roy Blunt, MO

Party Leadership in the House Selected by the House Conference (Reps) and Caucus (Dems) – all House members of that party Majority Party (Democrats) – Speaker of the House – Nancy Pelosi, CA – Majority Leader – Steny Hoyer, MD – Majority Whip – James Clyburn, SC Minority Party – Minority Leader – John Boehner, OH – Minority Whip – Roy Blunt, MO

Party Leadership in the Senate Majority Party (Democrats) – President Pro Tempore – Robert Byrd, WV – Majority Leader – Harry Reid, NV – Majority Whip – Dick Durbin, IL Minority Party (Republicans) – Minority Leader – Mitch McConnell, KY – Minority Whip – Trent Lott, MS

Party Leadership in the Senate Majority Party (Democrats) – President Pro Tempore – Robert Byrd, WV – Majority Leader – Harry Reid, NV – Majority Whip – Dick Durbin, IL Minority Party (Republicans) – Minority Leader – Mitch McConnell, KY – Minority Whip – Trent Lott, MS