1. Congress I 3/8/2012

2. Clearly Communicated Learning Objectives in Written Form Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: – identify and explain the role of formal (congressional) institutions and their effect on policy. – to understand and interpret the United States Constitution and apply it to present policy dilemmas. – have a better understanding of why our national government works and why the American system of government is unique.

3. Office Hours and Readings Chapter 8 on Congress Office Hours – Today 11-2

4. SUPER TUESDAY

5. Not the Game Changer This in 2008To This in 2012

6. What Was at Stake 10 States More than 400 Delegates 21 states and 800+ delegates in 2008

7. Romney wins 6 Santorum wins 3 Gingrich wins 1 Ron Paul will never quit

8. The Delegate Count

9. THE CONGRESS Article I

10. The Great Compromise

11. Eligibility House 25 Years Old 7 Years a US resident Citizen Senate 30 Years old 9 Years a US resident Citizen

12. The Senate 2 Seats for Every State 6 year Terms that overlap 9 States have more than 50% of population, but 18% of representation

13. The House 435 Seats Divided by Population 2-year terms 700,000 Constituents

14. REDISTRICTING AND REAPPORTIONMENT

15. Reapportionment Dividing up the 435 House Seats Based on the Census Every state Gets 1 (50 states) 385 Seats are at play every year

16. Winners and Losers 2012

17. Redistricting The process of redrawing districts within a state State legislatures control the battle Very Political

18. Laws on Redistricting Districts must have equal populations You cannot destroy a party either You cannot dilute minority voting Malapportionment

19. Gerrymandering An Eponym Politically motivated redefinition of election districts. Not possible in the Senate

20. Packing and Cracking

21. Partisan Gerrymandering The Most Traditional Form Drawing lines to favor a political party Some of the WorstWorst

22. Racial Gerrymandering The Original intent Voting Rights Act The Modern intent – Descriptive representation – Majority minority districts The Political Implications

23. GERRYMANDERING AND THE CASE OF TEXAS- 2003

24. The Events Leading Up to it all In 2000, the Democrats Gerrymander the state in their favor In 2002, the Democrats get 44% of the vote and 54% of the Seats in Congress Republicans take the Texas House and Senate and want payback

25. Payback Courtesy of Tom De Lay A mid-year reapportionment Strategy – 2 for 1s – Create unsafe seats – Make life miserable

26. What it did locally

27. Why it Fell apart Voting Rights Act One district ruled in violation The Rest Fell like dominoes But the Damage Was Done

28. What Happened to Tom De Lay? DWTS Currently on bail awaiting an appeal on money laundering

29. GERRYMANDERING AND TEXAS- 2011

30. What Happens The Republicans win big in 2010 Large Majorities in the House and Senate

31. The Legislature Draws the First Map It Favors the Republicans (Duh) Legal Challenges by Latino and African- American Groups

32. A Federal Court in San Antonio Draws a New Map This map favors Democrats The State of Texas sues This postpones our Primary from Super Tuesday

33. A Compromise Our Primary is now May 29 th The New map gives Democrats 2-3 of the new seats…. No One is really happy

34. What it Does to Austin Creates 5 Districts Four Safe Republican Stretches Doggett’s District to San Antonio

35. GETTING TO CONGRESS

36. The Bad Old Days Congress Did very Little It was seen as a penance D.C. Was not a nice place

37. What has changed? Air Conditioning Congress does more People want to go there

38. Who Are Our Congressman: Wealthy

39. Why so many millionaires? Running for Congress is a costly endeavor Running for Congress is a full-time job You need a job that permits this

40. Congress is Older

41. Still More Men Than Women

42. Changes Since the 1990’s

43. A GREAT JOB

44. Well-Paid

45. Great Benefits Money For Trips and Travel Great Pension Cheap Health Care

46. Other Perks Great Parking 3 day work week Franking Privilege Power and Prestige