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Understanding Congress: Term Lengths, Reapportionment, and Gerrymandering Explained

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This article delves into the structure of Congress, detailing the roles of the House of Representatives and the Senate, including their term lengths, qualifications for members, and the process of reapportionment following the census. We explore the phenomenon of gerrymandering, how it shapes electoral advantages, and why public sentiment often contrasts love for individual Congress members with disdain for Congress as a whole. With a focus on recent trends and changes, this piece aims to clarify the complex workings of American legislative processes.

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Understanding Congress: Term Lengths, Reapportionment, and Gerrymandering Explained

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Can you gerrymander?

  2. Why do we hate Congress but love our Congressman? 2013: Only 16% of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing.

  3. “Why I’m Leaving the Senate.”Evan Bayh

  4. Congress • Bicameral – House and Senate • Term Length – Two Years (113th Congress) • 20th Amendment – new Congressional term begins January 3rd, every odd-numbered year. • Session – meeting of Congress • Recess – break in the meeting • Adjournment – end of the meeting • Special Session – can be called by President.

  5. The Senate The Constitution says that the Senate “shall be composed of two Senators from each State.” Today’s Senate consists of 100 Senators. • 17th Amendment – Senators elected by the people. • Term Length – 6 years, no term length. • Continuous body – Only 1/3rd of the Senate is up for re-election at a time.

  6. Qualifications for Senators The Constitution says that a Senator • (1) must be at least 30 years of age, • (2) must have been a citizen of the United States for at least nine years, and • (3) must be an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected. ***Unofficially*** Must be an attractive candidate

  7. The House of Representatives • The size of the House is currently fixed at 435 members. • Seats are apportioned (distributed) among the States on the basis of their respective populations. • Term Length – 2 year, no term length. • All 435 are up for re-election at the same time.

  8. Qualifications for House Members The Constitution says that a member of the House • (1) must be at least 25 years of age, • (2) must have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years, and • (3) must have been an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected. • ***Unofficially*** Must be an attractive candidate

  9. Who gets elected?

  10. Reapportionment Article I of the Constitution directs Congress to reapportion—redistribute—the seats in the House after each decennial census. Does this cause the number of constituents that each member of the House represents to increase or decrease?

  11. Current Apportionment Changes • Texas +3 • Florida +2 • Arizona, California, • Georgia, Nevada, Utah +1 • Illinois, Iowa, Lousiana, • Massachusetts, Missouri, • Pensylvania -1 • New York, Ohio -2

  12. 2012-2022 Impact on Illinois Congressional Districts 2003-2011

  13. Bloomington/Normal Congressional Districts as of 1/13 18th District 13th District

  14. Gerrymandering Gerrymanderingrefers to the act of drawing congressional districts to the advantage of a particular group of citizens.

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