Baker v Carr1961 District Reapportionment

you want politics? - messy, nasty, important politics?

How are constitutional districts determined?

Representative Bobby Scott- 3rd district

Representative Eric Cantor-

7th District

Baker v Carr 1961•Tennessee: Republican Baker

complained Tennessee legislature had not drawn “updated” districts since 1901•SC said this was not a political

decision so the courts could make a judgement.

•SC said, “one person one vote”

•almost every state had to redistrict b/c of this ruling and urban areas gained and rural lost.....how did that affect politics?

So What?States in the 1960s - trying to avoid desegregation - often “drew new districts” which did NOT reflect true populations. This deceptive district drawing is called gerrymanderingReynolds v Sims 1964SC said: legislative districts mustbe roughly equal in populations

Minority Majority Districts

•Now states often create minority majority districts - purposefully drawn to create districts that represent minorities who may not otherwise be fairly represented

How are constitutional districts determined?

Representative Bobby Scott- 3rd district

The Politics of It All

•Redrawing districts is very important. What happens if the lines shift?

The politics of it all...

Virginia Redistricting for Incumbent ProtectionYou need to know:1. Who draws the congressional district maps?state legislatures

2.How often do they redraw them?every 10 years - based on the census

3. Why is it so important?incumbents (the current HoR member) is everything. 98% re-election rate