The House of Representatives Chapter 10 Section 2 Newly elected members Exercise: Take a look at the image: 1) What is the first thing you notice about most of the new members?; 2) What thoughts do you think are going through these members’ minds?

Starter Which states do you think have the fewest number of representatives? Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming (they have only 1 representative). Do larger states or smaller states have more influence in the House? Is this unfair? No, because the Senate addresses this issue with equal representation. Which States have the fewest number of House members; which state has the largest?

Objective Students will: Learn the size of the House as well as the term length and qualifications of members of the House; and Understand gerrymandering. The Main Idea: Members of the House, who serve an unlimited number of two-year terms, represent districts of roughly equal proportion.

Question Who elects individual members to the House of the Representatives? Answer: voters in each congressional district.

Size of the House Number of Representatives: 435 members(Congress sets the size of the House, not the Constitution); *The Constitution provides that the seats be apportioned (distributed) among the states on the basis of their respective populations.* So, which States have the larger voice? Answer: More populous states receive more House seats.

Terms of Representatives **Representatives are elected for two-year terms.** This short term means that the next election is always around the corner, so this makes Representatives pay close attention to “the folks back home.” There is no constitutional limit on the number of terms any member may serve. It is unconstitutional for states to limit the number of terms their members of Congress may serve. No term limits for House members.

*Qualification of Representatives* Constitution provides that Representatives must be: 25 years old; U.S. citizen for at least 7 years; and Reside in the represented State. Question: can a person born and raised in North Korea, who later moves to the U.S. and naturalizes to the, becoming a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years, run for a House seat? Yes

Reapportionment The 435 House seats are reapportioned (redistributed) every ten years when the U.S. counts its population. This count is called the census. After each census, the number of representatives of any state may change based on changes in its population That is, if a state loses or gains citizens, it may lose or gain House seats. Each of the 435 House seats (divided into districts) represents an average of over 700k persons.

Elections Elections of representatives to the House are held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each even-numbered years. Give me the month, day, and year of our next election of representatives to the House. November 8, 2016 The Constitution provides that any person whom a State allows to vote for members of its own legislature is qualified to vote in congressional elections.

Single-member districts Single-member districts: voters in each district elect one of the State’s Representatives from among a field of candidates running for a seat in that district. In the past, Congress gave States the option of electing its members by a general ticket system (at-large elections where the whole state votes) or on a single-member district basis. Congress scrapped the general ticket system in 1842.

Question Why do you think States set up districts from which to elect representatives? Do you think the city of Memphis as a whole has a different personality or different values than the city of Knoxville? Answer: maybe better organization; reps from a certain part of a state may better understand the needs of the people in that area than someone from a different part of the state.

Redrawing Congressional Districts Once Congress tells each State how many House seats it has, the State legislatures draw the boundaries of its electoral districts. They are redrawn because population patterns shift. States engage in gerrymandering, which is the drawing of electoral districts with the goal of maximizing the number of seats held by the party that controls the State’s legislature. Gerrymandering's main goal is to create as many safe districts as possible – districts almost certain to be won by the party in control of the line-drawing process.

Gerrymandering (Democrats Control - 2003)

Gerrymandering (Republicans Control - 2013)

Gerrymandering Congressional districts must have substantially equal populations. Gerrymandering solely on the basis of race is unconstitutional. Supreme Court has stated that nothing in the Constitution prevents a State from redrawing district lines to give advantage to the party in control of the legislature.

Gerrymandering Group Handout Chapter 10, Section 2, Core Worksheet

Exit Ticket Whom does each member of the House represent? What is a district? If your state has more than one representative in the House, do you get to vote for each representative from your state? Why are district lines redrawn? How can gerrymandering benefit the party in control? The people of his/her district; An area of about 700k people; No, only the one who represents your district; Because population patterns shift; The dominant party can make sure its members win by concentrating opposition voters into a few districts or by spreading opposition voters thin.

Is the House truly the “People’s House?” 1) What do the two images represent? (Image left – Capitol; Image right – the American people cowering behind the pillars of the Capitol) 2) Describe the expressions on this hiding people’s faces (scared, worried, uneasy, not happy) 3) Who elects representatives? (the people); How does this fact contribute to the irony expressed in this cartoon? (the irony is that although the people vote for members of the People’s House, the people in this cartoon are hiding, implying that it is not truly their house, i.e., the house does not represent their intentions) 4) Do you agree with this cartoon?