US House Seats Changes 1950-2018
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Questions and Answers

Which states lost House seats between 1950 and 2010?

  • Alaska and Hawaii
  • Florida and Texas
  • Texas and Louisiana (correct)
  • Louisiana and Florida

    • The number of House seats in Texas increased between 1950 and 2010.

    False (B)

    What state gained the most House seats between 1950 and 2010?

    Florida

    Alaska had ______ House seats in 1950.

    <p>0</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the state with its change in House seats between 1950 and 2010.

    <p>Florida = +19 Texas = -2 Hawaii = +2 Louisiana = -2</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which year did the number of districts with a Republican advantage of more than 2 points increase the most?

    <p>2012 (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The total number of districts with a Republican advantage of more than 2 points decreased between 2010 and 2012.

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

    In 2012, how many districts had a Democratic advantage greater than 2 points?

    <p>170</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In 2018, the number of districts with a Democratic advantage greater than 2 points was ______ than in 2012.

    <p>higher</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these statements is TRUE about the change in control of redistricting between 2010 and 2012?

    <p>The number of districts with balanced partisan advantage decreased. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the year with the number of districts where Democrats won the election.

    <p>2012 = 170 2014 = 166 2016 = 178 2018 = 174</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The number of districts with a balanced partisan advantage consistently decreased from 2010 to 2018.

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

    What trend can be observed in the number of districts with a Republican advantage greater than 2 points between 2010 and 2018?

    <p>An increasing trend</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which year did states with Republican control perform the majority of gerrymandering?

    <p>2016 (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voting Index (PVI) is calculated by comparing the average district-level presidential vote in 2004 and 2008 to the average district-level presidential vote in 2012 and 2016.

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

    What was the national average of the Democratic presidential vote in 2004 and 2008?

    <p>51.2 percent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the 2018 election, the Democrats achieved their largest net gain in the House of Representatives since ______.

    <p>1974</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following terms with their corresponding definitions:

    <p>Gerrymandering = The practice of manipulating electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political party or group. Partisan Voting Index (PVI) = A measure of how a district leans toward a particular political party, based on past election results. Blue Wave = A political phenomenon where a particular party gains significant electoral momentum in a given election cycle.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which year did the Supreme Court rule that districts cannot be drawn solely to benefit one race, even if that race has faced past discrimination?

    <p>1995 (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The North Carolina legislative districts were modified only once before receiving final approval by the Court.

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

    What was the main goal of the explicitly partisan gerrymander implemented in North Carolina after 2010?

    <p>To ensure Republicans would win a majority of the state's House seats, even with less than half the statewide vote.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The North Carolina legislative districts were initially drawn to create two majority ______ districts.

    <p>Black</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following individuals with their respective political parties and states:

    <p>Dianne Feinstein = Democratic, California Mike Enzi = Republican, Wyoming</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these states are among the nine largest states in the U.S. in terms of population?

    <p>Texas (A), California (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The smallest 26 states account for more than half of the Senate seats.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the approximate population of the average U.S. representative's constituency?

    <p>750,000</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do legislators prioritize in a party-centered electoral process?

    <p>Carrying out policies promised by their party (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Legislators operating in a candidate-centered electoral process are more likely to act collectively rather than individually.

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

    What is a primary source of Congress's collective action problems?

    <p>The imbalance between individual responsiveness and collective responsibility.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a party-centered electoral process, legislators understand they will be held responsible by voters for their party's ______.

    <p>performance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Electoral logic often leads members of Congress to promote what type of benefits?

    <p>Narrowly targeted programs for constituents (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following aspects of electoral processes with their characteristics:

    <p>Party-centered = Legislators prioritize party policies Candidate-centered = Legislators focus on individual responsiveness Collective action problems = Imbalance in prioritizing local vs. general benefits Local benefits = Specific programs supported by individual members</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to recipients of targeted programs funded by Congress?

    <p>They show gratitude at election time (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do legislators feel political pressure to pursue local benefits that might exceed their costs?

    <p>The costs are often not noticeable to taxpayers due to its distribution across a large population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which demographic group saw an increase in representation in Congress according to the data?

    <p>African Americans (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Hispanic representation in Congress has consistently mirrored the electorate over time.

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

    What year saw the lowest recorded representation of African Americans in Congress?

    <p>1868</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The representation of ______ in Congress has grown, but it has yet to reflect the full electorate.

    <p>diversity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the year with the corresponding representation trend for African Americans and Hispanics:

    <p>1868 = Lowest representation for African Americans 2008 = Increase in Hispanic representation 1970 = Stable representation for both groups 2020 = Continued growth but not at parity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement accurately reflects the trend from the graph?

    <p>There has been a continuous increase in the number of African Americans in Congress since 1868. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The number of Hispanics in Congress is equal to the number of African Americans.

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

    In what decade did Hispanic representation in Congress begin to show significant growth?

    <p>1990s</p> Signup and view all the answers

    As of 2020, representation in Congress has yet to fully ______ the electorate.

    <p>mirror</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the historical years with their significance in representation:

    <p>1870 = First African American elected to Congress 1965 = Voting Rights Act passage 1982 = Increase in minority representation efforts 2000 = Significant rise in both groups' representation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following years showed a notable rise in representation for both demographic groups?

    <p>2008 (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    There was no African American representation in Congress before the 20th century.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Name one major factor contributing to the growth in diversity in Congress.

    <p>Civil Rights Movement</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The data suggests that despite growth, there remains a gap in the ______ between Congress and the electorate.

    <p>diversity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Over which time period did Hispanic representation in Congress see the most significant increase?

    <p>1980-2000 (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Congressional Key Questions

    • Why do House and Senate members follow complex rules when these rules prevent majorities from passing legislation?
    • Why do Congressional incumbents rarely lose elections, despite the fact that they are aware of the electoral implications of their actions?
    • Why has the House and Senate become so polarized in recent decades, along partisan and ideological lines?
    • Why have Congressional party leaders gained power, while committees have lost power?

    Congressional Chapter Objectives

    • Describe the powers of Congress and how the congressional electoral system functions.
    • Identify the factors that influence advantages and disadvantages in congressional electoral politics.
    • Discuss the racial and ethnic makeup of Congress and whether it mirrors the electorate.
    • Explain six basic problems of legislative organization.
    • Describe the lawmaking process and how it operates under "regular order."
    • Understand public perceptions of Congress and develop a personal viewpoint on its performance.

    Congressional History (2019)

    • On December 18, 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives impeached President Trump.
    • This was the third impeachment of a U.S. president in U.S. history.
    • The impeachment inquiry investigated allegations that the president and his aides pressured Ukraine.
    • Impeachment hearings were watched by many viewers.
    • Democratic Representative Adam Schiff led the investigation and warned that the president and his men were plotting against U.S. Democracy.
    • A few days later, the U.S. House moved to a new legislative process after the impeachment.
    • Congress passed a new North American trade agreement.

    Congress and the Constitution

    • The structure of Congress is a product of the Great Compromise from the Constitutional Convention.
    • The House of Representatives is based on population, with members directly elected by constituents.
    • The Senate is composed of two members per state, originally chosen by state legislatures and now directly elected by voters.
    • Members of Congress are subject to constitutional requirements like minimum age and citizenship.

    Powers of Congress

    • Article I, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution details Congressional powers over various economic issues, such as taxation, spending, coining money, and regulating interstate commerce.
    • The "necessary and proper clause" (or elastic clause) gives Congress broad power related to any governmental function.
    • Congress has significant power in foreign affairs, such as declaring war, funding the military and also approving treaties and executive appointments.

    The Electoral System

    • Members of Congress and presidents are elected separately in the U.S.
    • Congress is elected through a plurality, or winner-take-all, system from congressional districts.
    • This system differs from proportional representation found in other parliamentary systems, where the distribution of seats is based on the proportion of votes received by each political party.

    Congressional Districts

    • After the U.S. Census in 1790, each state was given a number of House seats based on its population (one seat for every 33,000 inhabitants).
    • The House size was fixed at 435 members in 1911.
    • In 1964, the Supreme Court ruled in Wesberry v. Sanders that congressional districts must be roughly equal in population to maintain equal representation.
    • The population shifts across states have impacted districting over time.

    Racial and Ethnic Gerrymandering

    • The Supreme Court ruled in 1993 that districts cannot be drawn solely to benefit one race (even for minorities with a history of discrimination).
    • Irregular districts designed to maintain minority representation have been successfully challenged.
    • The 2010 reapportionment and subsequent districting schemes have been subject to legal challenges.

    Congressional Parties, Leadership, and Organization

    • Congress is organized around two political parties (Democrats and Republicans).
    • Party leaders (e.g., Speaker of the House, majority leader) exercise considerable power.
    • The committee structure helps distribute legislative work among legislators.

    Congressional Committees (Important)

    • Standing committees are permanent structures dealing with specific areas of legislation or policy.
    • Examples include Committees on Ways and Means, Appropriations, and Foreign Relations.
    • Smaller groups called subcommittees assist in organizing work.
    • Joint committees involve members from both chambers and deal with particular topics, such as the Library of Congress.

    Committee Power

    • Historically, Speaker of the House held great power over committee assignments due to their role in selecting committee chairs.
    • Over time, rules restricting committee chairs to fixed terms have been implemented.
    • The allocation of committee assignments, and the rules around it, have become major topics of political debate.

    The Vote, Presidential Veto and Congressional Override

    • Congress must navigate a multi-step process with a variety of factors influencing votes.
    • Members must balance their constituents' views and party goals during an election or re-election.
    • Presidents have the power to veto legislation; two-thirds majorities in Congress are needed to override a Presidential veto.
    • Public opinion and other considerations also play a role in the legislative process.

    How a Bill Becomes a Law

    • A bill is introduced, debated, revised in committees, and then voted on by committees in both chambers.
    • A conference committee is created when differences arise between the House and Senate versions of a bill.
    • The bill is sent to the president who can sign it into law, veto it, or let it become law without signing it.

    Other Groups in Congress

    • Besides party-based coalitions, there are numerous other interest and constituency groups in Congress.
    • These groups sometimes act as lobbies to promote specific interests or values.

    Evaluating Congress

    • Public perceptions of Congress are often mixed.
    • People tend to hold individuals in high regard but criticize the institution itself.
    • The ability of Congress to function effectively reflects the public mood and partisan division, which sometimes complicates effective consensus building through compromise.

    Congressional Staff and Support Groups

    • Congress creates support systems like the Congressional Budget Office and Congressional Research Service.
    • These provide information about specific policy areas to help legislative staff make informed decisions.

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    Related Documents

    Chapter 6: Congress - The Logic of American Politics PDF

    Description

    Test your knowledge on the changes in House seats across various states between 1950 and 2018. This quiz covers state gains and losses, partisan advantages, and significant trends in redistricting. Challenge yourself to match states with their changes in representation.

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