Congressional district
Encyclopedia
A congressional district is “a geographical division of a state from which one member of the House of Representatives is elected.”
Congressional Districts are made up of three main components, a representative, constituents, and the specific land area that both the representative and the constituents live in.
. A representative is also referred to as a congressman or congresswoman; each representative is elected to a two-year term serving the people of a specific congressional district. Among other duties, representatives introduce bills and resolutions, offer amendments and serve on committees. The number of representatives with full voting rights is 435, a number set by Public Law 62-5 on August 8, 1911, and in effect since 1913. The number of representatives per state is proportionate to population.
Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution provides for both the minimum and maximum sizes for the House of Representatives. Currently, there are five delegates representing the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. A resident commissioner represents Puerto Rico. The delegates and resident commissioner possess the same powers as other members of the House, except that they may not vote when the House is meeting as the House of Representatives.
To be elected, a representative must be at least 25 years old, a United States citizen for at least seven years and an inhabitant of the state he or she represents.”
Congressional Districts are made up of constituents. Every person is a “constituent” of a single member of the House of Representatives no matter where they live within the United States. An individual doesn’t have to be registered to vote to be considered a constituent though. Everyone is represented even if they didn’t participate in an election, they just don’t get to elect who they’re represented by.
“Legislators must act in the capacity of a go-between in the relationship of the average citizen with his national government. Much of a legislator’s day must be spent in answering letters, running errands, showing the sights to visitors, and similar activities on behalf of his constituents.”
“Sometimes representation requires a balancing act. If some representatives favor more defense spending but suspect their constituents do not, what are they to do? The English politician and philosopher Edmund Burke favored the concept of legislators as trustees, using their best judgment to make policy in the interests of the people. Others prefer the concept of representatives as instructed delegates, mirroring the preferences of their constituents. Actually, most members of Congress are politicos, adopting both trustee and instructed delegate roles as they strive to be both representatives and policy makers. “.
“Reapportionment is the process of reallocating seats in the House of Representatives every 10 years on the basis of the results of the census
.”
“Districts are generally drawn up by the partisan majorities in state legislatures in such a ways to favor their party’s candidates in congressional elections (gerrymandering). For many years, Congress provided that state legislatures draw up congressional districts as “compact and contiguous” areas, substantially equal in population; but since 1929, Congress has not specified criteria for redistricting. As a result of the Supreme Court’s 1964 decision in Wesberry v. Sanders
, 376 U.S. 1, that congressional districts must be based on substantial equality of population, Congress has reconsidered the problem of establishing standards.”
2010 Census Data
There are 435 congressional districts in the United States House of Representatives
, with each one representing approximately 600,000 people. The Census Bureau
within the United States Department of Commerce
conducts a decennial
census
whose figures are used to determine the number of congressional districts within each state
.
Congressional Districts are made up of three main components, a representative, constituents, and the specific land area that both the representative and the constituents live in.
Representatives in the U.S. Government: How it works
“Each congressional district elects one RepresentativeRepresentation
Representation can refer to:* Representation , one's ability to influence the political process* Representative democracy* Representation, a type of diplomatic mission...
. A representative is also referred to as a congressman or congresswoman; each representative is elected to a two-year term serving the people of a specific congressional district. Among other duties, representatives introduce bills and resolutions, offer amendments and serve on committees. The number of representatives with full voting rights is 435, a number set by Public Law 62-5 on August 8, 1911, and in effect since 1913. The number of representatives per state is proportionate to population.
Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution provides for both the minimum and maximum sizes for the House of Representatives. Currently, there are five delegates representing the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. A resident commissioner represents Puerto Rico. The delegates and resident commissioner possess the same powers as other members of the House, except that they may not vote when the House is meeting as the House of Representatives.
To be elected, a representative must be at least 25 years old, a United States citizen for at least seven years and an inhabitant of the state he or she represents.”
Congressional Districts and their Main Ingredient: Constituents
“A Constituent is a resident of a legislator’s district. The district itself is sometimes referred to as the Congressional member’s constituency.”Congressional Districts are made up of constituents. Every person is a “constituent” of a single member of the House of Representatives no matter where they live within the United States. An individual doesn’t have to be registered to vote to be considered a constituent though. Everyone is represented even if they didn’t participate in an election, they just don’t get to elect who they’re represented by.
“Legislators must act in the capacity of a go-between in the relationship of the average citizen with his national government. Much of a legislator’s day must be spent in answering letters, running errands, showing the sights to visitors, and similar activities on behalf of his constituents.”
Representation of Constituents
Representation is a difficult task that members of Congress must face. Different styles of representation of constituents have been considered by members of congress as the best way to represent their constituents. It’s rare that a member of congress wouldn’t care about his/her constituents because member of congress generally care a great deal about reelection. So the way they represent their constituents is important to them.“Sometimes representation requires a balancing act. If some representatives favor more defense spending but suspect their constituents do not, what are they to do? The English politician and philosopher Edmund Burke favored the concept of legislators as trustees, using their best judgment to make policy in the interests of the people. Others prefer the concept of representatives as instructed delegates, mirroring the preferences of their constituents. Actually, most members of Congress are politicos, adopting both trustee and instructed delegate roles as they strive to be both representatives and policy makers. “.
Changes in Congressional Districts
Because Congressional Districts change in population over time, people leaving a district and moving to a new one, or growth in one over the others causes for congress to go through a process called reapportionment.“Reapportionment is the process of reallocating seats in the House of Representatives every 10 years on the basis of the results of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
.”
“Districts are generally drawn up by the partisan majorities in state legislatures in such a ways to favor their party’s candidates in congressional elections (gerrymandering). For many years, Congress provided that state legislatures draw up congressional districts as “compact and contiguous” areas, substantially equal in population; but since 1929, Congress has not specified criteria for redistricting. As a result of the Supreme Court’s 1964 decision in Wesberry v. Sanders
Wesberry v. Sanders
Wesberry v. Sanders, 376 U.S. 1 was a U.S. Supreme Court case involving U.S. Congressional districts in the state of Georgia. The Court issued its ruling on February 17, 1964. This decision requires each state to draw its U.S...
, 376 U.S. 1, that congressional districts must be based on substantial equality of population, Congress has reconsidered the problem of establishing standards.”
2010 Census Data
United States
- Main article: List of United States congressional districts.
There are 435 congressional districts in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, with each one representing approximately 600,000 people. The Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
within the United States Department of Commerce
United States Department of Commerce
The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903...
conducts a decennial
Anniversary
An anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event...
census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
whose figures are used to determine the number of congressional districts within each state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
.
See also
- List of electoral districts by nation
- House of Representatives of JapanHouse of Representatives of JapanThe is the lower house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Councillors of Japan is the upper house.The House of Representatives has 480 members, elected for a four-year term. Of these, 180 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation,...
- House of Representatives of the PhilippinesHouse of Representatives of the PhilippinesThe House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
- United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...