In at least 150 words, evaluate the manner by which congressional districts are formed in the U. S. Do you think this is a good system for electing representatives? Why or why not?

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Geography

Emery Downs

19 September, 10:47

In at least 150 words, evaluate the manner by which congressional districts are formed in the U. S. Do you think this is a good system for electing representatives? Why or why not?

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Matilda Obrien · Answer 1

The U. S. Constitution requires that each district have about the same population: each federal district within a state must have about the same number of people, each state district within a state must have about the same number of people, and each local district within its jurisdiction must have about the same number of people.

The standard for congressional districts is quite strict, with equal population required "as nearly as is practicable." In practice, this means that states must make a good-faith effort to draw districts with exactly the same number of people in each district within the state. Any district with more or fewer people than the average (also known as the "ideal" population) must be specifically justified by a consistent state policy. And even consistent policies that cause a one percent spread from largest to smallest district will likely be unconstitutional.

State and local legislative districts have a bit more flexibility; they have to be "substantially" equal. Over a series of cases, it has become accepted that a plan will be constitutionally suspect if the largest and smallest districts are more than ten percent apart. This is not a hard line: a state plan may be upheld if there is a compelling reason for a larger disparity, and a state plan may be struck down if a smaller disparity is not justified by a good reason.

Some states hold their state districts to stricter population equality limits than the federal constitution requires. Colorado, for example, allows at most five percent total deviation between the largest and smallest districts; Montana's commission has set guidelines for itself aiming for no more than six percent total deviation (each district must be at most 3% larger or 3% smaller than the "ideal"). Iowa not only also limits its total population deviation to five percent, but also sets the average deviation at no more than one percent from the "ideal."