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

I. Size of House of Representatives Has 435 (3) members today. Has 435 (3) members today. This number is set by Congress not Constitution. This number is set by Congress not Constitution. Constitution only deals with apportionment 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)

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.

II. Reapportionment Constitution directs congress to reapportion/redistribute the seats in the House of R. after each decennial census. 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 1 st congress had 65 representatives and 26 senators (1789) 1. The 1 st congress had 65 representatives and 26 senators (1789) 2. By 1920 that # had increased to By 1920 that # had increased to 435.

II. Reapportionment Cont… B. In order to stabilize the process, congress passed the Reapportionment Act of 1929 which provided for: B. In order to stabilize the process, congress passed the Reapportionment Act of 1929 which provided for: –1. Permanent size of House of R. 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.

II. Reapportionment Cont… Landmark reapportionment case: 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. 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!!!!!!!!!!!! Main point: Gerrymandering is illegal!!!!!!!!!!!!

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. 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: 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.

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)