1. The House of Representatives

2. How Many Members Per State?
Determined by population
CA – WY – 1
Each member represents a particular geographic area called a district

3. How Many Members From OHIO?16
What district are we in? 14
Who is our Congressman?
David Joyce
How Many Members From OHIO?

4. How Many Members TOTAL?
435 representing 435 districts

5. Length of Term in Office
2 years
ALL member up for re-election every 2 years
Advantage: Voters can hold them Accountable
Disadvantage: Always campaigning and not working

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

7. Congressional Elections
High Re-election Rates within the house
Name Recognition
Congressional districts drawn to benefit incumbents aka…Gerrymandering
Incumbency – already elected*

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

9. Reapp Act of 1929 435 Total Districts 435 Total Members of Congress
Each Member Represents approx. 750,000

10. 2012 Elections Democratic hold Democratic pickup Republican pickup
   Republican hold

11. 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

12. Effects of Gerrymandering

13. 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

14. Census  Reapportionment  Redistricting  Gerrymandering
The Process
Census  Reapportionment  Redistricting  Gerrymandering

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