Redistricting vs. Reapportionment
Goals
12.4 Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.
- Students will be able explain the difference between redistricting and reapportionment
- Students will understand the history of how Congressional districts were created and how the process has changed over time
- Explain how House seats are reapportioned among the States after each census
- Define the term gerrymandering
- Explain how the process of drawing Congressional seats is used by the majority party to maintain political party
12.4 Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution.
- Discuss Article I of the Constitution as it relates to the legislative branch, including eligibility for office and lengths of terms of representatives and senators; election to office; the roles of the House and Senate in impeachment proceedings; the role of the vice president; the enumerated legislative powers; and the process by which a bill becomes a law.
Lesson Introduction
To introduce the concept of gerrymandering, the students will complete a worksheet that requires them to divide up an area of surrounding cities into districts of equal population.
Vocabulary
List of key terms for the lesson:
- Apportioned
- Reapportionment
- Redistricting
- Congressional district
- Single-member district
- Gerrymandering
- Census
- Wesberry v. Sanders
Content Delivery
Lecture on the definitions of redistricting and reapportionment and the important distinction between the two concepts.
Student Engagement & Critical Thinking
The Student Activity for the lesson will be a Venn Diagram of the concepts of redistricting and reapportionment.
Demonstrated Learning
Formative Assessments: The gerrymandering worksheet will be collected and graded. The grading rubric rates the students’ level of completeness of the assignment and comprehension of the lesson objective.
Lesson Closure
The students will be a writing prompt at the end of the lecture and will complete their responses in their journals.
Accommodations
Lecture Notes will be available for students who require additional help. The notes include definitions of the key terms of the lesson and examples of how the words are used in context.
Resources
| venn_diagram_legislative_branch.pdf |
| reorganzing_districts.pdf |
