Congressional

Reapportionment/
Redistricting
Jocelyn Valenzuela, Fernando Galvan, Alejandro Padilla, Ahtziri
Alcantara

Reapportionment and Redistricting

Reapportionment- A census every 10 years
determines number of reps per state in the House
based on population
Redistricting- The division of a state into districts
one per each rep
Can happen in the middle of a decade -League of United American
Citizens, et al v. Perry
Can be taken advantage of during elections

Why is it important?
Reapportionment- based on the population, it helps
change the representation of each state

Redistricting- it helps represents a part of the state

based on each representative

Good or Bad for Democracy? (Ahtziri)

After the Reapportionment, it is the states responsibility to draw the boundaries of the
new districts in their state's redistricting. STATES ARE ON THEIR OWN
In some states, the legislature (laws) is responsible for redistricting TO PROTECT
THE MINORITY STATES
While in others, independent and powerful commissions set redistricting plans.
MOST POWERFUL COMMISSIONS are going to create the boundaries of the new
districts TO THEIR CONVENIENCE.
Gerrymandering = manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to
FAVORS ONLY ONE PARTY or class.

Group Opinion
We believe that reapportionment is an efficient process in keeping the
people's voices heard because it constantly accounts for the
populations in each state. Redistricting, on the other hand, in many
cases is taken advantage of by politicians which leads to smaller
districts in each states having as much say as a large district within
a state.

Question
Why aren't United States territories given
representation in Congress?