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Distribution of Seats in House of Representatives

Distribution of Seats in House of Representatives. Chapter 5 Sec.1 & 2. I. Size of House of Representatives. Has 435 (3) members today. This number is set by Congress not Constitution. Constitution only deals with apportionment

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Distribution of Seats in House of Representatives

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  1. Distribution of Seats in House of Representatives Chapter 5 Sec.1 & 2

  2. I. Size of House of Representatives • Has 435 (3) members today. • This number is set by Congress not Constitution. • Constitution only deals with apportionment • 1. Apportionment: distribution of seats among states based on population of that state. • 2. Each state is at least guaranteed one seat, roughly every 650,000 people (AK, DE, MT, SD, ND, VT, WY)

  3. I. Size of House of Representatives cont… • 3. Territories such as DC, Guam, Virgin Islands, Samoa Islands, each have delegates who have no voting power, but can represent their people in debates.

  4. II. Reapportionment • Constitution directs congress to reapportion/redistribute the seats in the House of R. after each decennial census. • A. Census: the department of government in charge of counting the total population in the United States, state by state. • 1. The 1st congress had 65 representatives and 26 senators (1789) • 2. By 1920 that # had increased to 435.

  5. II. Reapportionment Cont… • B. In order to stabilize the process, congress passed the Reapportionment Act of 1929 which provided for: • 1. Permanent size of House of R. set @ 435 • 2. After each census, the bureau would deteremine the # of seats for each state. • 3. When plan ready, president sends it to congress • 4. If neither house rejects the plan for 60 days, then the plan goes into effect.

  6. II. Reapportionment Cont… • Landmark reapportionment case: • Wesberry vs. Sanders: • Supreme Court declared that representatives should be chosen by people of states in the most equal and even way possible. • Main point: Gerrymandering is illegal!!!!!!!!!!!!

  7. III. What is Gerrymandering???? • A. When political districts have been drawn to the advantage of the political party, or group that controls the state legislature. • B. 2 forms of gerrymandering: • 1. Packing: to concentrate the opposition voters in one or a few districts, thus leaving other districts comfortably safe for the majority party.

  8. III. What is Gerrymandering Cont… • 2. Cracking: to spread the opposition voters as thinly as possible among several districts, limiting opposition’s ability to win any districts. C. Remember: Gerrymandering is illegal (Wesberry vs. Sanders)

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