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Congress

Congress. Theories of Representation. Redistricting. Reapportionment vs. Redistricting Gerrymandering Political gerrymandering – favoring the party in power in the state legislature Racial gerrymandering – efforts to increase or limit the influence of racial minorities.

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Congress

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  1. Congress Theories of Representation

  2. Redistricting • Reapportionment vs. Redistricting • Gerrymandering • Political gerrymandering – favoring the party in power in the state legislature • Racial gerrymandering – efforts to increase or limit the influence of racial minorities

  3. 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

  4. Redistricting:A Modern Gerrymander

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

  6. Congressional Organization:The Two Chambers of Our Bicameral Legislature • The House of Representatives (“The House”) • 435 members • 2-year terms • Members represent a distinct geographic district • D.C., American Samoa, Guam, and U.S. Virgin Islands (delegates) • Puerto Rico (Resident Commissioner – 4 yrs) • Northern Mariana Islands – nothing! • Senate • 100 members • 6-year terms • Members represent entire state (2 per)

  7. Who Represents Us? • House • UNT is in the 26th Congressional District for Texas • Michael Burgess, R • Senate • Kay Bailey Hutchison, R (1993 - ?) • Reelected in 2006 • John Cornyn, R (2002 - ?) • Up for election in 2008

  8. Marking Time in Congress • A “Congress” is a two-year period • Consists of two sessions (each one year) • Right now, 110th Congress, 1st Session

  9. Herding Cats • “Congress” = 535 elected officials + thousands of staff members • How do they get anything done? • Structure: • Party Structure / Leadership • Committee Structure

  10. Party Leadership in the House • Selected by the House Conference (Reps) and Caucus (Dems) – all House members of that party • Majority Party (Democrats) • Speaker of the House – Nancy Pelosi, CA • Majority Leader – Steny Hoyer, MD • Majority Whip – James Clyburn, SC • Minority Party • Minority Leader – John Boehner, OH • Minority Whip – Roy Blunt, MO

  11. Party Leadership in the House • Selected by the House Conference (Reps) and Caucus (Dems) – all House members of that party • Majority Party (Democrats) • Speaker of the House – Nancy Pelosi, CA • Majority Leader – Steny Hoyer, MD • Majority Whip – James Clyburn, SC • Minority Party • Minority Leader – John Boehner, OH • Minority Whip – Roy Blunt, MO

  12. Party Leadership in the Senate • Majority Party (Democrats) • President Pro Tempore – Robert Byrd, WV • Majority Leader – Harry Reid, NV • Majority Whip – Dick Durbin, IL • Minority Party (Republicans) • Minority Leader – Mitch McConnell, KY • Minority Whip – Trent Lott, MS

  13. Party Leadership in the Senate • Majority Party (Democrats) • President Pro Tempore – Robert Byrd, WV • Majority Leader – Harry Reid, NV • Majority Whip – Dick Durbin, IL • Minority Party (Republicans) • Minority Leader – Mitch McConnell, KY • Minority Whip – Trent Lott, MS

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