Help With Your Homework Tonight

AP® UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
2008 SCORING GUIDELINES

Question 1
7 points

Part (a): 2 points

One point is earned for a correct definition of congressional reapportionment. One point is earned for a correct explanation of why reapportionment is important to states.

An acceptable definition of congressional reapportionment is:

• The reallocation of the number of representatives each state has in the House of Representatives.
Acceptable explanations of why congressional reapportionment is important to states are:
• Reapportionment increases or decreases the number of seats a state has in the House/Congress
(not the Senate).
• More representatives mean that a state has more influence.
• Reapportionment increases or decreases a state’s number of electoral votes.

NOTE: The explanation point must be tied to an appropriate definition of reapportionment.

Part (b): 1 point

One point is earned for a correct definition of congressional redistricting. An acceptable definition is:

• The drawing/redrawing of House/congressional (not Senate) district lines.

Part (c): 2 points

One point is earned for each of two explanations of the goals of politicians when they gerrymander during
redistricting. Acceptable explanations may include:

• To enhance political party strength/to minimize the strength of the opposition party.
• To protect incumbents/to discourage challengers.
• To increase minority representation/to decrease minority representation.
• To punish foes/to reward friends.

NOTE: “Cracking” or “packing” must be tied to one of the above in order to earn the explanation point.


Gerrymandering
2008 “Model” Student Response

A1. Congressional reapportionment is when a states’ population is re-totaled, and based on growth or loss of state citizens, the number of representatives in the House could change.

A2. This is important to the states because they don’t want to lose seats in the House of Representatives.
B1. Redistricting is the act of redrawing the lines of congressional districts to give one party a better chance of winning over another.
C. Gerrymandering can occur when politicians want to: give the minority the majority in a district or creating a district that favors their party. C1. Giving minority the majority would help congressional leaders make legislation to help minorities.
C2. Creating a district that is more populated with one party over another can ensure a politician’s chance of winning.
D1. The Supreme Court has outlawed racial gerrymandering which was found to happen often in the South to prevent African-Americans from voting or having a majority.
D2. The Supreme Court also shot down majority-minority districts. Reapportionment and congressional redistricting is watched closely by today’s courts.