UNITED STATESUNITED STATESCONGRESSCONGRESS

The most important deliberative body The most important deliberative body in the history of the worldin the history of the world

HISTORYHISTORY

• Two ChambersTwo Chambers

• SenateSenate

• House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

HISTORYHISTORYSenateSenate

• Two Senators from each StateTwo Senators from each State

• 26 Senators26 Senators

• Now: 100 SenatorsNow: 100 Senators

• Originally: Senators Selected by the State Originally: Senators Selected by the State Legislatures (U.S. Constitution Article 1 § Legislatures (U.S. Constitution Article 1 § 3)3)

• Changed by 17th Amendment in 1913: The Senate Changed by 17th Amendment in 1913: The Senate of the United States shall be com- posed of of the United States shall be com- posed of two Senators from each State, elected by the two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof …people thereof …

HISTORYHISTORYHouse of House of

RepresentativesRepresentatives• Elected by Popular VoteElected by Popular Vote

• Each State gets at least one Each State gets at least one RepresentativeRepresentative

• One additional Representative for One additional Representative for every 30,000 people every 30,000 people

• Total of 65 RepresentativesTotal of 65 Representatives

WHAT WOULD THE HOUSE WHAT WOULD THE HOUSE LOOK LIKE TODAY?LOOK LIKE TODAY?

• Current US Population: 309,183,463Current US Population: 309,183,463

• @ 1 Representative per 30,000 people: @ 1 Representative per 30,000 people:

• Total Representatives: 10,306Total Representatives: 10,306

• What if we gave the least populous state one What if we gave the least populous state one representative & used that as the ratio for representative & used that as the ratio for representatives?representatives?

• 1789 the least populous State was Delaware (population 1789 the least populous State was Delaware (population 30,000) which got 1 representative30,000) which got 1 representative

• 2010 the least populous State was Wyoming (population 2010 the least populous State was Wyoming (population 568,300) which got 1 representative568,300) which got 1 representative

• Using the least populous State ratio, Total Using the least populous State ratio, Total Representatives: 544Representatives: 544

WHY ARE THERE 435 WHY ARE THERE 435 REPRESENTATIVES?REPRESENTATIVES?

• Number set in 1911Number set in 1911

• Size of the House ChamberSize of the House Chamber

• How are Representatives How are Representatives ChosenChosen

• Apportionment formula: Apportionment formula:

• State legislatures draw State legislatures draw the Districtsthe Districts

• Voters elect Voters elect RepresentativesRepresentatives

WHY DOESNWHY DOESN’’T CONGRESS T CONGRESS WORK?WORK?

• ApportionmentApportionment

• High Cost of CampaignsHigh Cost of Campaigns

• Low Voter TurnoutLow Voter Turnout

APPORTIONMENTAPPORTIONMENT

• State Legislature Draws the LinesState Legislature Draws the Lines

• How?How?

• Gerrymandering: to manipulate the Gerrymandering: to manipulate the boundaries of an electoral boundaries of an electoral constituency so as to favor one constituency so as to favor one party or class.party or class.

APPORTIONMENT2012 Congressional Districts

APPORTIONMENTAPPORTIONMENT2002 Proposed Congressional Districts

APPORTIONMENT2002 Passed

APPORTIONMENTAPPORTIONMENT1992 Congressional Districts

APPORTIONMENTAPPORTIONMENT

• Why do State Legislatures Why do State Legislatures Gerrymander Legislative Districts?Gerrymander Legislative Districts?

• Who does Gerrymandering protect?Who does Gerrymandering protect?

• Does it work?Does it work?

2012 CONGRESSIONAL 2012 CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION RESULTSELECTION RESULTS

DISTRICT

INCUMBENT CHALLENGERCHALLENGER

1 62.98% R 37.02% D

2 63.78% D 36.22% R

3 100.00% R 0.00% D

4 73.57% D 26.43% R

5 84.39% D 15.61% R

6 64.51% R 35.49% D

7 72.97% R 27.03% D

8 100.00% R 0.00% D

9* (R) 76.18% (D) 23.82%

10 100.00% R 0.00% D

11 68.55% R 31.45% D

12 53.70% D 46.30% R

13 71.74% D 28.26% R

14 72.97% R 27.03% D

RULE OF UNINTENDED RULE OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCESCONSEQUENCES

•Intervention in a complex system tends to create unanticipated and often Intervention in a complex system tends to create unanticipated and often undesirable outcomesundesirable outcomes

•Why?Why?

1.1.IgnoranceIgnorance (It is impossible to anticipate everything, thereby leading to (It is impossible to anticipate everything, thereby leading to incomplete analysis)incomplete analysis)

2.2. ErrorError (Incorrect analysis of the problem or following habits that worked (Incorrect analysis of the problem or following habits that worked in the past but may not apply to the current situation)in the past but may not apply to the current situation)

3.3. Immediate interestImmediate interest, which may override long-term interests, which may override long-term interests

4.4. Basic valuesBasic values may require or prohibit certain actions even if the long- may require or prohibit certain actions even if the long-term result might be unfavorable (these long-term consequences may term result might be unfavorable (these long-term consequences may eventually cause changes in basic values)eventually cause changes in basic values)

5.5. Self-defeating prophecy (Fear of some consequence drives people to find (Fear of some consequence drives people to find solutions before the problem occurs, thus the non-occurrence of the problem solutions before the problem occurs, thus the non-occurrence of the problem is not anticipated.)is not anticipated.)

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF GERRYMANDERINGOF GERRYMANDERING

• All incumbents have All incumbents have ““safesafe”” seats seats

• ConsequentlyConsequently

• Incumbents have no incentive to serve Incumbents have no incentive to serve the people of their home districtthe people of their home district

• Incumbents have no incentive to make Incumbents have no incentive to make Congress Congress ““workwork””

• Congress becomes a careerCongress becomes a career

HIGH COST OF HIGH COST OF CAMPAIGNSCAMPAIGNS

• Fund raising for the Fund raising for the next election begins next election begins the day after the last the day after the last election.election.

• Federal Election Federal Election Commission (FEC) Rules Commission (FEC) Rules Require All Elected Require All Elected Officials to File Fund Officials to File Fund Raising Disclosures Raising Disclosures Every Six MonthsEvery Six Months

HIGH COST OF HIGH COST OF CAMPAIGNSCAMPAIGNS

• John Boehner, (R) OhioJohn Boehner, (R) Ohio

• Raised $9,074,335Raised $9,074,335

• Spent $7,239,533Spent $7,239,533

• 2012 spent $86.04 / vote2012 spent $86.04 / vote

• Hank Johnson, (D) GeorgiaHank Johnson, (D) Georgia

• Raised $168,911Raised $168,911

• Spent $133,222Spent $133,222

• 2012 spent $2.08 / vote2012 spent $2.08 / vote

HIGH COST OF HIGH COST OF CAMPAIGNSCAMPAIGNS

• 2014 Average Democrat Incumbent has2014 Average Democrat Incumbent has

• Raised $546,277Raised $546,277

• Spent $331,280Spent $331,280

• 20122012

• Average Incumbent Raised $578,311Average Incumbent Raised $578,311

• Average Challenger Raised $117,087Average Challenger Raised $117,087

• 2012 The President spent $16.73 per vote2012 The President spent $16.73 per vote

WHERE DO THE $ GO?WHERE DO THE $ GO?• Filing Fees & Compiance with Federal & State Filing Fees & Compiance with Federal & State LawsLaws

• Consultants & Paid StaffConsultants & Paid Staff

• Direct Mail Direct Mail

• InternetInternet

• RadioRadio

• TVTV

• ““VolunteersVolunteers””

WHERE DO THE $ WHERE DO THE $ COME FROMCOME FROM

• PACsPACs

• IndividualsIndividuals

PAC Name Total Receipts

ActBlue $65,358,224

Service Employees International Union $23,365,607

EMILY's List $18,357,593

National Rifle Assn $11,719,160

DGA Action $8,629,385

American Fedn of St/Cnty/Munic Employees $8,564,617

American Federation of Teachers $7,478,275

Senate Conservatives Fund $6,995,208

Teamsters Union $6,989,084

Americans for Responsible Solutions $6,645,722

Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $5,836,145

Plumbers/Pipefitters Union $5,776,515

Independence USA PAC $5,694,701

National Assn of Realtors $5,694,334

United Food & Commercial Workers Union $5,423,114

Laborers Union $4,133,517

AFL-CIO $4,073,817

Communications Workers of America $3,904,730

Honeywell International $3,808,091

Operating Engineers Union $3,678,487

Top 20 PACs by Total Receipts, 2013-2014

Totals include subsidiaries and affiliated PACs, if any.

Based on data released by the FEC on January 06, 2014.

Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics. For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center.

LOW VOTER TURNOUTLOW VOTER TURNOUT

EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: DEKALB COUNTYDEKALB COUNTY

• Population (2010 Census)Population (2010 Census)

• 691,893 Total691,893 Total

• 526,757 Over 18526,757 Over 18

• Registered Voters Registered Voters

• 383,369383,369

• 73% of Adults73% of Adults

EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: DEKALB COUNTY 2008DEKALB COUNTY 2008

• Primary — 84,879Primary — 84,879

• 22% of Registered Voters22% of Registered Voters

• 16% of Adults16% of Adults

• General Election — 322,517General Election — 322,517

• 84% of Registered Voters84% of Registered Voters

• 61% of Adults61% of Adults

EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: DEKALB COUNTY 2010DEKALB COUNTY 2010

• Primary — 83,414Primary — 83,414

• 22% of Registered Voters22% of Registered Voters

• 16% of Adults16% of Adults

• General Election — 212,111General Election — 212,111

• 55% of Registered Voters55% of Registered Voters

• 40% of Adults40% of Adults

EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: DEKALB COUNTY 2012DEKALB COUNTY 2012

• Primary — 127,316Primary — 127,316

• 33% of Registered Voters33% of Registered Voters

• 24% of Adults24% of Adults

• General Election — 307,228General Election — 307,228

• 80% of Registered Voters80% of Registered Voters

• 58% of Adults58% of Adults

• Bibliography

• http://ballotpedia.org

• http://www.census.gov/2010census/

• http://www.fec.gov

• http://www.opensecrets.org

• http://sos.ga.gov/elections/

• http://uscode.house.gov