Midterm Elections Congress House of Representatives Senate 435 members 2 year term local districts 100 members 6 year term state

Powers Congress House of Representatives Senate Impeach federal officals Originates all revenue raising bills Convict federal officals for impeachable offenses Advise and Consent role on presidential powers

Reapportionment Up through 1910 census, size of the House membership expanded as the population expanded 1911 Congress capped the membership at 435, so since 1920 census Congress must reapportion seats among the states to reflect shifts in population growth rates

Redistricting Redrawing legislative districts within states to reflect population shifts and reapportionment results Occurs every 10 years, after the decennial census Next census is 2010 Districts are drawn according to state government plans (some states use the legislature, some use special “commissions”

Gerrymander Drawing congressional districts for partisan advantage

Gerrymander Packing

Gerrymander Cracking

Redistricting Since the 1960s though, districts are required to contain roughly the same number of people –Baker v. Carr (1964) –Wesberry v. Sanders (1964) –Drawing gerrymandered districts is more difficult now than it was, but it can still be doneDrawing

Elections Impact of districting: –fewer “competitive” seats –higher re-election rates for incumbentshigher re-election rates –86% in House in 2010 –86% in Senate in 2010* *depending on the Alaska vote

Elections Other factors contributing to incumbent advantage: –Fundraising Check the Center for Responsive Politics website for the spending differentials among challengers and incumbentsCenter for Responsive Politics

Elections Other factors contributing to incumbent advantage –Name recognition among electorate –Easier access to media –Easier access to electorate “franking” privilege

Useful Links Overview of the Legislative Process: of the Legislative Process Rules of the 110th Congress (House) of the 110th Congress Process in the Senate Legislative in the Senate Legislative