Discussion Topic

Reapportionment – Article 1, Section 2, of the United States Constitution requires that a census be taken every 10 years for the purpose of apportioning the United States House of Representatives. Redistricting is the process by which the boundaries of elective districts are periodically redrawn to maintain equal representation on the basis of population.

Census – The 2010 decennial census population data was delivered to the Texas legislature in April 2011. The members of the legislature, their designees, and other interested parties will begin drawing redistricting plans.

a. How does the U.S. Supreme Court’s one-person, one-vote rulings (Baker v Carr & Reynolds v Sims) affect redistricting plans?  Can districts ever be drawn fairly considering that one or the other party will be in charge of drawing the lines?

b. Which congressional district do you live in? Do you have a new representative since the district boundaries were redrawn in 2011?  Do you think they won because of their political stance or because the state legislature drew a district that was sure to get them elected…or some other reason?

c. Many people believe that because of redistricting, politicians choose their voters instead of their voters choosing their politicians.  Where to you stand on this assumption?

(should be around 200 words total) no more than 300 words 

i need citation from at least one article 

and i live in Denton, Texas