1. January 23, 2015 Incumbency Advantages… Objective Objective: Basic understanding of Congress

2. I. Basic Characteristics 1. MEMBERSHIP Elite Class Theory 2. COMPENSATION/PERKS 27 th amend. Perks: 1.Franking Privilege 2.Junkets 3.Others (healthcare, pension, travel, barber, gym, etc.) What are the 5 most common ways you get to know Congress and Challengers

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

4. I. Scope of incumbency advantages http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/buried-in-the-fine-print/ Earmarks VS. Pork Permanent Congress Safe Seats II. Advantages 1.Name rec. 2.Staffers 3.Patronage 4.Constituent Work 1.Pork, earmarks, casework 5.Monetary advantage 6.Weak 7.Gerrymandering (safe seats)

5. I. Incumbency advantages Gerrymandering: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mky11UJb9AY__ –Reapportionment-10 years –Boundaries redrawn WA State: bipartisan commission of 5 people –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

6. Gerrymandering: Supreme Court 1.District lines equal in population 2.District lines: contiguous 3.Cannot dilute racial minority voting 4.“Communities of interest”