CAN YOU GERRYMANDER?

WHY DO WE HATE CONGRESS BUT LOVE OUR CONGRESSMAN?

2013: Only 16% of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing.

“WHY I’M LEAVING THE SENATE.”EVAN BAYH

CONGRESS Bicameral – House and

Senate Term Length – Two Years

(113th Congress) 20th Amendment – new

Congressional term begins January 3rd, every odd-numbered year.

Session – meeting of Congress

Recess – break in the meeting

Adjournment – end of the meeting

Special Session – can be called by President.

THE SENATEThe Constitution says that

the Senate “shall be composed of two Senators from each State.” Today’s Senate consists of 100 Senators.

17th Amendment – Senators elected by the people.

Term Length – 6 years, no term length.

Continuous body – Only 1/3rd of the Senate is up for re-election at a time.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR SENATORSThe Constitution says

that a Senator (1) must be at least 30

years of age, (2) must have been a

citizen of the United States for at least nine years, and

(3) must be an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected.

***Unofficially*** Must be an attractive candidate

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The size of the House

is currently fixed at 435 members.

Seats are apportioned (distributed) among the States on the basis of their respective populations.

Term Length – 2 year, no term length.

All 435 are up for re-election at the same time.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR HOUSE MEMBERS

The Constitution says that a member of the House (1) must be at least 25

years of age, (2) must have been a

citizen of the United States for at least seven years, and

(3) must have been an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected.

***Unofficially*** Must be an attractive candidate

WHO GETS ELECTED?

REAPPORTIONMENTArticle I of the Constitution

directs Congress to reapportion—redistribute—the seats in the House after each decennial census.

Does this cause the number of constituents that each member of the House represents to increase or decrease?

CURRENT APPORTIONMENT

ChangesTexas +3Florida +2Arizona, California, Georgia, Nevada, Utah +1Illinois, Iowa, Lousiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Pensylvania -1New York, Ohio -2

IMPACT ON ILLINOIS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS

2003-2011 2012-2022

BLOOMINGTON/NORMAL CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AS OF 1/13

13th District

18th District

GERRYMANDERING

Gerrymandering refers to the act of drawing congressional districts to the advantage of a particular group of citizens.