This document outlines the requirements to run for and hold positions in the House and Senate. It also discusses key Supreme Court cases related to redistricting and the "one person, one vote" standard. Additionally, it examines different types of gerrymandering and factors politicians consider in elections. Finally, it analyzes reasons for low voter turnout, including legal obstacles, attitude changes, lack of voter mobilization, and the "rational nonvoter" perspective.

1. POL 375
Spring 2018

3. HOUSE
 AGE: 25Years
 CITIZENSHIP: 7Years
 RESIDENCY: State
SENATE
 AGE: 30Years
 CITIZENSHIP: 9Years
 RESIDENCY: State

8.  Compactness
 Contiguity
 Equal Population
 Preservation of Existing Political Communities
 Partisan Fairness
 Racial Fairness

9. Each group should try and draw the district lines
so that their political party is favored
AND demonstrate:
(1) Compactness, (2) Contiguity,
and (3) Equal Population

17.  “One Person, OneVote” Standard (Gray)
 Baker v. Carr (1962)
 Redistricting cases are “political questions”
 Reynolds v. Sims (1964)
 State legislative districts must be characterized by
equality in population
 Wesberry v. Sanders (1964)
 Federal legislative districts (House) must be
characterized by equality in population.

23.  Partisan Gerrymandering
 Racial Gerrymandering
 Majority-Minority Districts
 Shaw v. Reno (1993)
 Pro-Incumbent / “Sweetheart” Gerrymandering
 Anti-Incumbent Gerrymandering
 (1) Hijacking and (2) Kidnapping

25.  Can I win this state or district?
 Who would win in Florida?
 Can I beat my opponent?
 Incumbency Advantage
 Do I have funds to run winning campaign?
 How are the national tides running?
 POTUS Popularity; General Mood of Country

29.  Advertising
 Franking (Use of U.S. Mail for
office-related activities)
 Ribbon-Cutting Ceremonies
 Speeches and Interviews
 Position-Taking
 Using votes and speeches to
stake out popular positions
rather than to change policy
 Credit-Claiming
 Pork Barrel Projects
 Casework

33.  High Reelection Rate
 Office and Staff
 Direct Communications
 Casework
 Franking Privilege
 Name Recognition
 Lack of Quality Challengers
 Money

36.  Legal Obstacles
 Registration Process
 Election Day is day during workweek and not holiday
 MotorVoter Act and other legislation made process easier
 Attitude Changes
 Low feelings of political efficacy can lead to nonvoting
 May improve temporarily with dynamic candidate
 Voter Mobilization
 Someone is much more likely to vote if they’ve been contacted
by a campaign volunteer
 GOTV – “Get OutTheVote” efforts to mobilize citizens

37.  Decrease in Social Connectedness
 People opt for “connections” on social media rather than
meaningful face-to-face conversations
 Generational Changes
 Senior citizens tend to vote more than younger generations
 The “Rational Nonvoter”
 Does not think that their vote matters because of large
population and chooses not to cast a ballot