2008 FRQ on Reapportionment

A1. Congressional reapportionment is defined as: counting and reallocating the number of representatives each state has in the House of Representatives.

A2. One reason why congressional reapportionment is important to states is that is can add or subject the number of congressmen/women in the United States House of Representatives within their respective district.

B1. Congressional redistricting is defined as changing or modifying states’ political boundaries.


C1. One goal that politicians have when then gerrymander during redistricting is: to create “safe seats” in Congress which are considered uncontestable since the incumbent wins year after year based upon the districts’ majority voters.



C2. Another goal that politicians have when then gerrymander during redistricting
is to protect friends (such as through pork barrel favors and earmarks) as well
as to punish foes. Foes are punished by not receiving attention from the
congressman/woman.

D1. One limit the United States Supreme Court has placed on congressional
redistricting concerns race. In Baker v. Carr the US Supreme Court
(USSC) determined that Congressional redistricting could not factor in race as
a way of excluding minority populations as was done in the South during the
era of Jim Crow. The USSC since its historic decision sends monitors to ensure
the illegal redistricting based on race is not undertaken.

D2. Another limit the United States Supreme Court has placed on congressional
redistricting concerns a districts’ representation. Every district according to
the law must be equally populated. Regardless how strangely shaped districts
become through “packing” and “cracking” every member of the district must
be counted.