4 2 BICAMERALISM AND REAPPORTIONMENT OVERVIEW Bicameraltwo houses
4 -2: BICAMERALISM AND REAPPORTIONMENT
OVERVIEW Bicameral—two houses House § House of Representatives § Senate Not diverse § Lawyers or businessmen § White males prevalent Most elections leave the House and Senate fairly evenly split Senate
REASONS Historical Experience § British System § Colonial/state legislatures bicameral § House of Delegates § VA Senate
REASONS Great Compromise § House—based on population § Senate—each state receives two
REASONS Federalism (involving state governments) § House—represents people § Senate—represents states § Originally appointed by state legislatures § Now elected (17 th Amendment) § Power split between large and small states § Slows legislative process
HOUSE SIZE AND APPORTIONMENT Constitution § No size limits § Apportioned by population § Every state guaranteed one seat Size capped at 435
REAPPORTIONMENT Definition § Increases or decreases number of seats held by a state § Also affects Electoral College Occurs every 10 years following census
DISTRICTS Equal representation (about 730, 000) Boundary lines drawn by state legislatures § Importance of state majority party
GERRYMANDERING Definition § Majority party redraws districts to ensure maximum number of seats Consequences § Protects incumbents § Discourages challengers § Strengthens majority party § Can increase or decrease minority representation
LIMITATIONS ON REDISTRICTING Requirements for Districts § Equally populated § Compact § Contiguous § Cannot dilute minority voting strength Gerrymandering still allowed for partisan purposes
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