1. January 31, 2017 Incumbency Advantages…
Objective: Basic understanding of Congress

2. Incumbency Advantages
Objective: …understand the scope and advantages for congressional incumbents

3. I. Incumbency advantages
Gerrymandering:
Reapportionment-10 years (
Boundaries redrawn
WA State:
Packing vs. Cracking
Effects of Gerrymandering:
“Safe” seats
Party in power STAYS
Strangely-shaped districts
Baker v. Carr, 1962-”one man, one vote”
Wesberry v. Sanders, 1964
Shaw v. Reno, 1993
Miller v. Johnson, 1995

4. Gerrymandering: Supreme Court
District linesequal population
District linescontiguous
Cannot dilute racial minority voting
“Communities of interest”

5. II. Basic Characteristics
1. MEMBERSHIP
Elite Class Theory
2. COMPENSATION/PERKS
27th amend.
Perks:
Franking Privilege
Junkets
Others (healthcare, pension, travel, barber, gym, etc.)

6. III. Scope of incumbency advantages http://www. cagw
III. Scope of incumbency advantages Earmarks VS. Pork
Permanent Congress
Safe Seats
II. Advantages
Name rec.
Staffers
Patronage
Constituent Work
Monetary advantage
Weak opp.
Gerrymandering (safe seats)