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Congress

Congress. Theories of Representation. Today. Bare-bones basics of Congress What does it mean to “represent” someone (or some group) politically? What factors determine who represents us in Congress?. House 435 Representatives 1 per geographic district 2 year terms. Senate 100 Senators

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Congress

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  1. Congress Theories of Representation

  2. Today • Bare-bones basics of Congress • What does it mean to “represent” someone (or some group) politically? • What factors determine who represents us in Congress?

  3. House 435 Representatives 1 per geographic district 2 year terms Senate 100 Senators 2 per state 6 year terms Bicameral Legislature

  4. Business of Congress • A Day in the House of Reps • http://clerk.house.gov/

  5. What Does Representation Mean? • “Represent”: to act in place of or on behalf of someone else • “Constituency”: the group on whose behalf the legislator acts

  6. Three Big Questions About Representation • Does the idea of democratic representation allow legislators to do what is good for us, rather than what we want? • Should members of Congress serve as “delegates” or as “trustees”? • Whose “best interests” matter? • Is “agency representation” enough, or is “sociological representation” necessary?

  7. Theories of Representation: Delegate v. Trustee • Delegate: Someone who acts in accordance with our wishes • Trustee: Someone who acts to best protect our interests (even if we’re not happy with it) • Example: Balancing the budget and raising taxes

  8. Theories of Representation:The Importance of “Constituency” • If legislators are acting in our best interests, who has standing? • Only voters in the legislator’s district? • Everyone in the legislator’s district, both parties, voters and non-voters? • The nation as a whole? • Example: “pork barrel legislation”

  9. Theories of Representation: Descriptive v. Substantive • Ways of creating “policy congruence” (delegate representation) • Descriptive • Shared background and experience = shared political preferences • Substantive (Agency) • Electoral accountability is enough to force policy congruence

  10. But . . . • Is electoral pressure enough to force policy congruence, or is descriptive representation necessary for true representation? • Are there benefits to descriptive representation that extend beyond policy outcomes?

  11. Who Represents Us: Important Factors to Remember • Who runs • Access to money • Access to support • Time and “social capital” • Incumbency advantage • Money • Name recognition and constituency service • Controversy over term limits – U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton • Redistricting • The art of the “gerrymander”

  12. Redistricting:The Original Gerrymander

  13. Redistricting • When and why • Every 10 years (now – Baker v. Carr) – following REAPPORTIONMENT • In response to legal challenges

  14. Redistricting • How it’s done • Political gerrymandering – favoring the party in power in the state legislature • Racial gerrymandering – efforts to increase or limit the influence of racial minorities

  15. Racial Gerrymandering • “Cracking” • Drawing district lines so that the minority racial group is diffuse, spread out over many districts, so they have no influence in any one district • “Packing” • Drawing district lines to that the minority racial group is concentrated into one or two districts, with no influence in any of the others

  16. Redistricting:A Modern Gerrymander

  17. History of North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District

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