Essay 14 2008_1

2008-1) Congressional reapportionment and redistricting are conducted every ten years. When redistricting is conducted, politicians often engage in gerrymandering.
(a) Define congressional reapportionment and explain one reason why it is important to states.
(b) Define congressional redistricting.
(c) Explain two goals of politicians when they gerrymander during redistricting.
(d) Describe two limits that the United State Supreme Court has placed on congressional redistricting.

A. Congressional reapportionment is the reallocation of the number of representatives from each state there are in the House. This is important to the states because more seats in the House means more influence each state has.
B. Congressional redistricting is the redrawing of House and Senate district lines.
C. Two goals of politicians when they gerrymander during redistricting are to increase minority representatives and protect incumbents.
D. Two limits the U.S. Supreme Court has placed on congressional redistricting include equally populated districts and the prevention of drawing lines based on race and their capacity to vote as a whole.

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap08_us_gopo_q1.pdf