Essay 13 Congressional Reapportionment

2008-1) Congressional reapportionment and redistricting are conducted every ten years. When redistricting is conducted, politicians often engage in gerrymandering.
(a) Define congressional reapportionment and explain one reason why it is important to states.
(b) Define congressional redistricting.
(c) Explain two goals of politicians when they gerrymander during redistricting.
(d) Describe two limits that the United State Supreme Court has placed on congressional redistricting.

A. Congressional reapportionment is the reallocation of the number of representatives each state has in the House of Representatives. It is important because more representatives mean that a state has more influence.

B. Congressional redistricting is the drawing/redrawing of House/congressional (not Senate) district lines

C. Two goals of politicians when they gerrymander during redistricting are to enhance political party strength/to minimize the strength of the opposition party and to protect incumbents/to discourage challengers.

D. Two limits that the United State Supreme Court has placed on congressional redistricting are that districts must be equally populated and communities of interest must be protected.

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