Reapportionment

Government: Libertyville HS

What is Reapportionment?

• A method to re-draw congressional district lines to reflect the population changes in America, from state to state

• Also called “redistricting”

(red – lose population, blue = gain pop)

What is Reapportionment?

• Who does it affect?– House of Representatives

members ONLY– US Senators NOT affected

(why?)• Look at example of

unapportioned state w/ 4 districts– Where do you want to live to

maximize your representation from congressman: with more or fewer people?

250,000

5 million

500,000

1 million

What is the Process?• Census Bureau counts our

population every 10 years to determine where people live

• Census Bureau divides the total population of the US by 435 (why?)

• This determines the number of Americans per district

• Census Bureau then tells each state how many congressional seats it has

Effects of Reapportionment

Reapportionment effect, 2010

Reapportionment effect, 2000

What is the Process?

• Each state legislature redraws the district lines – Congress– State Legislature– New lines reflect addition /

loss of seats• Court challenges follow to

assure constitutionality and fairness of map

• Challenges can be brought in state or federal courts

• Will end up in USSC

What can be Taken into Consideration?• USSC has decided many cases to

determine what can be considered in reapportionment– Same # of people must be in each

district (“one man, one vote”): Wesbery v. Sanders

– Keep communities together! (AVOID GERRYMANDERING)

– Race / ethnicity of a pop. IS NOT allowed to be considered…• …unless a compelling state interest

is shown• “Past discrimination” is not a

compelling state interest• Showing present discrimination

would be enough (Shaw v. Reno)

What can be Taken into Consideration?

• Political preference of a population can be considered when re-districting (Latin Voters v. Perry)

Illinois Congressional Map

Illinois’ 4th Congressional District