1. Elections in Congress
Congress

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

3. House Elections
Congress

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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?

8. 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

9. 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.

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

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

12. Redistricting
Congress

13. 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.

14. House Elections
Redistricting

15. 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

16. 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

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

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

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

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

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

22. 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

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

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

25. 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

26. House Elections
Redistricting
Gerrymandering
examples

27. House Elections
Redistricting
Worst Gerrymandering
examples
“Cracking”

28. House Elections
Redistricting
Worst Gerrymandering
examples
“Packing”

29. House Elections
Redistricting
Worst Gerrymandering
examples

30. House Elections
Redistricting
Worst Gerrymandering
examples

31. House Elections
Redistricting
Worst Gerrymandering
examples

32. House Elections
Redistricting
Worst Gerrymandering
examples

33. House Elections
Redistricting
Worst Gerrymandering
examples

34. Bigly Ideas
Beliefs & Behaviors

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