Congressional Elections and Gerrymandering

<p>House constituencies are based on population, while Senate constituencies are based on geographic area. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It can be used to manipulate district boundaries to benefit a particular political party or interest group. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It can make congressional elections less competitive and predictable. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>435 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Every two years (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To increase the representation of one political party at the expense of another. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It established the principle of 'one person, one vote' for congressional districts. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Race can only be considered as a secondary factor, not the main one, in redrawing districts. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They typically have a larger campaign war chest and more name recognition. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>House members have shorter terms and smaller districts, making it easier to stay connected with voters. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It helps them navigate the complexities of government and build relationships. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It helps candidates fund their campaigns and reach a wider audience. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The ability to use franking privileges, allowing them to send free mail. (E)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They have a better chance of winning without having to compete with an incumbent's advantages. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They have more name recognition and access to resources. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Focusing on issues important to their constituents and promoting their accomplishments. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Providing casework for individual constituents and showcasing their responsiveness. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A surge in voter turnout motivated by dissatisfaction with the incumbent. (A), A major shift in the political landscape, favoring the challenger's party. (B), A strong challenger with a compelling platform. (C), A scandal involving the incumbent. (D), Poor economic conditions in the district. (E)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The need to pay for advertising, travel, and campaign staff. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Senate campaigns need to reach a wider audience and cover a larger geographic area. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It demonstrates their ability to navigate the complexities of government effectively. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A body of voters in a designated area who elect a representative.

The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries after a census.

The intentional manipulation of district boundaries to benefit a specific group.

The process of determining how many representatives each state gets in the House.

Each state is represented by two senators regardless of population.

The House is composed of 435 members since 1929.

Lines that define the geographical area of a congressional district.

A group that draws district lines in a nonpartisan manner.

Drawing district boundaries to benefit one political party over another.

Creating majority-minority districts to enhance minority voting power.

Supreme Court case that mandated equal population in districts.

Uneven distribution of population among legislative districts, violating the 14th Amendment.

Supreme Court case that addressed race-based district drawing, ruling against bizarre shapes.

The state of holding a political office while running for reelection.

Benefits of incumbents include media, track record, and name recognition.

Cost of congressional elections; average Senate race: $1.5M, House: $500K.

Free mail service for incumbents to communicate with constituents.

Incumbents can lose due to scandals, poor economy, or redistricting.

A situation where a minority ethnicity holds the majority in voting districts.

Importance of prior political experience for challengers to succeed.

Increased visibility through news and advertisements that help incumbents.

Challengers often wait for open seat elections with no incumbents.

Personal assistance provided by incumbents to constituents dealing with bureaucracy.