Congressional Districts of TN

Important Vocabulary:

Congressional District:an electoral division of a U.S. state, entitled to send one member to the US House of Representatives

Reapportionment-the process by which 435 seats in Congress are assigned to 50 states, following the census

Important Vocabulary Redistricting-To divide

again into districts, especially to give new boundaries to administrative or election districts.

Gerrymandering-in drawing the boundaries of electoral districts in a way that gives one party an advantage over its rivals.

Government Review

Government is an institution to maintain order and stability in society.

No Government= ANARCHY (absence of government. No order.

United States Government Review

The government of the United States is a federal republic with a strong democratic tradition.

Federal: a union of states under a central government. States still have some power.

Republic: a government where citizens have power by voting.

United States Government Review

In a federal system, powers are divided between levels of government.

FEDERAL

STATE

COUNTY

CITY/LOCAL

United States Government Review

U.S. Government Divided into 3 branches Legislative: Make Laws (Congress)

Bicameral Legislature (2 Houses) House of Representatives Senate

Judicial: Interpret Laws (Supreme Court) Executive: Enforce Laws (President)

US Government Senators:50 total House of Representatives: 435 total seats.

How are these numbers determined?

Number of seats Senate: each state gets 2 Senators.

2 x 50=100 total Senators

House of Representatives: based on population. 435 total seats across the United States Each state gets at least one. The higher the population of a state, the

more representatives that state gets.

How is population counted?

Census: Every 10 years The main purpose of the census is to

determine how many seats each state receives. This is known as apportionment. As populations change or shift,

reapportionment may be necessary.

Congressional Districts of TN

TN has 9 congressional districts. All districts are equal in population,

NOT in size.

Population Density

Since each district has the same population: The smaller the district the higher the

population density. The larger the district the lower the

population density.

Population Density: # of people per square mile.

TN’s most populated cities:

Memphis: 655,155 Nashville: 624,496 Knoxville: 182,200 Chattanooga: 171,279 Clarksville: 142,519 Murfreesboro: 114,038 Jackson: 67,265

Who draws the lines?

Congressional district lines are drawn by each state’s legislature, not by the Federal government.

Very political! Gerrymandering: drawing lines to

benefit one political party.

Gerrymandering

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcUDBgYodIE

What will happen to the congressional districts if…

Nashville becomes the most populated city in TN and Memphis becomes the second most populated city?

What will happen to the congressional districts if…

The congressional district around Memphis would get larger, and the district containing Nashville would get smaller.

What will happen to the congressional districts if…

Tennessee’s population grows according the next Census and earns an additional seat in the House of Representatives.

What will happen to the congressional districts if…

Reapportionment must occur to redraw congressional district lines in order to keep them the same in population NOT size.

What will happen to the congressional districts if…

Tennessee’s population decreases and we lose a seat.

What will happen to the congressional districts if…

Reapportionment must occur to redraw congressional district lines in order to keep them the same in population NOT size.