The House of Representatives

How Many Members Per State? Determined by population CA – 53 WY - 1

How Many Members From OHIO? 16

How Many Members TOTAL? 435 representing 435 districts

Length of Term in Office 2 years Advantage: Voters can hold them Accountable Disadvantage: Always campaigning and not working

Congressional Elections 1 st Tue after 1 st Mon in Nov every Even Yr Off-Year or Mid-Term Elections –President’s Party Usually LOSES Seats

Reapportionment Reapportionment - Determining the number of Representatives from each state based on population every Ten Years *CENSUS * Census - a population count; official national census occurs every 10 years and is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau

Reapp Act of Total Districts 435 Total Members of Congress Each Member Represents approx. 700,000

2012 Elections Democratic hold Democratic pickup Republican pickup Republican hold

Congressional Districts Redistrict – to set up new district lines after reapportionment is complete Determined by each State Gerrymandering – drawing districts to the advantage of one party

Purpose of Gerrymandering 1. Packing - To group together similar voters to guarantee a party victory 2. Cracking - To put one party’s voters in a district where they will be outvoted by the other party’s voters

The Process Census  Reapportionment  Redistricting  Gerrymandering

Exit Slip 1.Define Reapportionment 2.Define Gerrymandering 3.How many districts are there in Ohio 4.Why did the Framers of the constitution create differences in the House and Senate?