How many Congressional Districts Should America Have?

how much does a congress member earn in a year? $165,200.
how many districts are there? 435
how many constituents in each district? average = 688,749

how does that rate of pay work out per constituent?

$165,200 per year
...........divided by 688,749 = 0.2398552 cents per constituent.
It would require 1.69 constitutents to pay for one .39 cent postage stamp.

From the Home page of theOffice of The Clerk U.S. House of Representatives click on Member Information then Member FAQS

Maybe it is time for us to think about making more congressional districts. The current number, 435, was determined almost one hundred years ago. America has added states and the population has grown and keeps on growing.

Yet, we have stuck with a formula devised in 1911. Like when Alaska and Hawaii came in, we didn't add representatives.

Our Constitution talks about the number 30,000 per district. Yeah it does. I know most folks don't think about it but that is the number mentioned in the Constitution. Article 1: Section 2, part 3 goes like this:
"...........within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The number of representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each State shall have at least one representative;........"

What I get out of that is, we could if we wanted to, have more representatives apportioned to the population. The founding fathers seemed to think the population shouldn't be diluted beyond 1 to 30,000. IF we took the current population and divided that by 30,000 the answer would = 9986.

Of course that is way too many representatives. They would never get anything done. That said, I still think we ought to think about adding congressional districts for these reasons:

1. States could use GPS and micro targeting to work out more representation for more ethnic races.

2. The power of the representative would be diluted, but his constitutents would gain some influence.

3. Elections could be done cheaper with smaller districts and fewer constitutents.

4. Adding representatives would close the gap between lobbyists on the hill and the congressional members who are now pretty badly outnumbered. I read there about 30,000 registered lobbyists in Washington DC.

5. There are too many safe seats now, adding districts would give us more honest elections.

6. IF districts are more ethnically diverse that would better reflect our country.

7. Current legislators work way to hard and get paid not enough when you think how many folks they are responsible for.

8. Constituents will find it easier to keep an eye on their Congress member.

9. Congress members would be able to go to Washington DC and work for the people instead of having to work on getting reelected and building up their campaign funds.

10. If campaigns were cheaper to run, maybe members could get reelected without all these 527's and swift boat guys and move on folks. Corporations wouldn't be running the country.

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Electoral Alternative

A Stanford University computer science professor has come up with an idea ....for an interstate compact that would require states to throw all of their electoral votes behind the winner of the national popular vote, regardless of which candidate wins in each state. Stanford professor stumps for electoral alternative SFGate.com by Matthew Yi, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau July 24, 2006

GOP Sees Disturbing Reflection in The Mirror

Washington Post.com by Jim VandeHei and Juliet Eilperin April 9, 2006
Gingrich said the party became too preoccupied with creating and maintaining safe GOP districts as part of an effort to cement a lasting majority. Gingrich, who originally championed the idea, said he now thinks the tactic has had the effect of undermining democracy and distancing House members from their roots.

Democrats "get to rip off the public in the states where they control and protect their incumbents, and we get to rip off the public in the states we control and protect our incumbents, so the public gets ripped off in both circumstances," Gingrich said. "In the long run, there's a downward spiral of isolation."

When I read that Gingrich quote my first thought was, 'at last, somebody in the GOP gets it and will say so.

And then I came to this:
...During the last Congress, the 108th, only 22 percent of legislation was considered with an open rule allowing the minority to offer amendments from the floor, compared with 30 percent under the Democrats' 103rd Congress. When Democrats offered 29 amendments to a medical malpractice bill last Congress, GOP leaders blocked all of them from coming to a vote.

Well that casts a new light on the Republican complaint, 'Democrats don't have a plan'

read more

Proposal would subtract non citizens from redistricting count

Proposal would subtract illegal aliens from redistricting count The Beacon Journal Associated Press March 7, 2006

Republican Study Committee Members

Member Name Anne Northup Barbara Cubin Bob Beauprez Bob Goodlatte Bob Inglis Bobby Jindal Buck McKeon Cathy McMorris Charles Taylor Charlie Norwood Chris Cannon Chris Chocola Cliff Stearns Connie Mack Dan Burton Dan Lungren Dana Rohrabacher Darrell Issa Dave Camp Dave Weldon Denny Rehberg Don Manzullo Duncan Hunter Ed Royce Eric Cantor Ernest Istook Gary Miller Geoff Davis George Radanovich Gil Gutknecht Henry Brown J. Gresham Barrett J.D. Hayworth Jack Kingston Jeb Hensarling Jeff Flake Jeff Miller Jerry Moran Jim Ryun Jo Ann S. Davis Joe Barton Joe Pitts Joe Wilson John Boozman John Campbell John Carter John Culberson John Doolittle John Hostettler John Kline John Linder John Shadegg John Sullivan Kevin Brady Lee Terry Louie Gohmert Luis Fortuno Lynn Westmoreland Mac Thornberry Marilyn Musgrave Mario Diaz-Balart Mark Green Mark Souder Marsha Blackburn Michael Burgess Michael McCaul Mike Conaway Mike Pence, Chairman Mike Sodrel Patrick McHenry Paul Ryan Pete Sessions Phil Gingrey Randy Forbes Randy Neugebauer Richard Pombo Rob Bishop Robert Aderholt Rodney Alexander Roger Wicker Ron Lewis Roscoe Bartlett Sam Johnson Scott Garrett Spencer Bachus Steve Chabot Steve King Sue Myrick Ted Poe Tim Murphy Todd Akin Todd Tiahrt Tom Cole Tom Feeney Tom Price Tom Reynolds Tom Tancredo Trent Franks Virgil Goode Virginia Foxx Wally Herger Walter Jones Zach Wamp

District KY 3rd Wy AL CO 7th VA 6th SC 4th LA 1st CA 25th WA 5th NC 11th GA 9th UT 3rd IN 2nd FL 6th FL 14th IN 5th CA 3rd CA 46th CA 49th MI 4th FL 15th MT AL IL 16th CA 52nd CA 40th VA 7th OK 5th CA 42nd KY 4th CA 19th MN 1st SC 1st SC 3rd AZ 5th GA 1st TX 5th AZ 6th FL 1st KS 1st KS 2nd VA 1st TX 6th PA 16th SC 2nd AR 3rd CA 48th TX 31st TX 7th CA 4th IN 8th MN 2nd GA 7th AZ 3rd OK 1st TX 8th NE 2nd TX 1st PR RC GA 8th TX 13th CO 4th FL 25th WI 8th IN 3rd TN 7th TX 26th TX 10th TX 11th IN 6th IN 9th NC 10th WI 1st TX 32nd GA 11th VA 4th TX 19th CA 11th UT 1st AL 4th LA 5th MS 1st KY 2nd MD 6th TX 3rd NJ 5th AL 6th OH 1st IA 5th NC 9th TX 2nd PA 18th MO 2nd KS 4th OK 4th FL 24th GA 6th NY 26th CO 6th AZ 2nd VA 5th NC 5th CA 2nd NC 3rd TN 3rd

Opponent Miller Ladd Thomas unopposed Brown not determined Willoughby not determined Keever Ellis Babka Donnelly Bruderly Neeld Carr Castillo Brandt Byron Huckleberry Pristoop Velazquez Kutsch Keliher Williams unopposed Smith Myers Clooney Bufford unopposed unopposed unopposed unopposed unopposed Bernstein unopposed Coutu unopposed Boyda Davies Meyer Herr Ellisor Judy Graham Porter Martinez Winters Jennings Luther unopposed unopposed Dodd Wright Thompson Sandlin ??? Delamar unopposed Matsunaka unopposed unopposed Parra unopposed Reyes Sadun Raasch Fox Hill Fischer unopposed Frost Crawford Menefee Stenholm McNerney Thomson Cole blakes unopposed Smith Bosley unopposed Wolfe unopposed Harris Schulte Flynn Lampson Boles weber Mork unopposed unopposed unopposed Davis Conti unopposed Weed Harrell Johnson Eaton Wolfe

sign ATR pledge yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes ??? yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes ??? yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes

Supreme Court to review Texas redistricting

San Jose Mercury News by Gina Holland Dec. 12, 2005 quote: "..Justices will consider a constitutional challenge to the boundaries filed by various opponents. The court will hear two hours of arguments in four separate appeals. Lawyers have been told the case will be argued March 1, so the outcome could affect 2006 elections..." ....read more...
the Link:
AP Wire | 12/12/2005 | Supreme Court to review Texas redistricting

Congresswoman Candice S. Miller | Serving Michigan's 10th District

quote: "United States Representative Candice Miller's bold proposal to amend the United States Constitution so that only legal citizens are represented in Congress and in Presidential elections was heard on Tuesday, December 6 by the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Federalism and the Census." ....read more...
the Link:
Congresswoman Candice S. Miller | Serving Michigan's 10th District

Search Results - THOMAS (Library of Congress)

House Joint Resolution 53 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide that Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the number of persons in each state who are citizens of the United States.
the Link:
Search Results - THOMAS (Library of Congress)

NEWS REPORTS

March 15, 2005 - December 4, 2005

1994 CQ Report - The Court That Forgot About Politics by Alan Ehrenhalt in Governing Magazine - quote: We don't choose governors or senators to be justices any more, and we've paid a price for that.

1997 Governing Magazine - Redistricting Goes Digital by Geoff Earle quote: Drawing political maps is now a high-tech game. But almost anybody can play.

2001 Governing Magazine - The Mapmaking Mess by Alan Greenblatt quote: Drawing new political districts is always chaotic, but this round promises to be the wildest yet. Everyone at the table has an agenda.

2004 Governing Magazine - Frankfurter's Curse by Alan Ehrenhalt quote: Fifty-eight years ago, Justice Felix Frankfurter told his brethren to stay out of the business of drawing political maps. "Courts ought not to enter this political thicket," Frankfurter warned in Colegrove v. Green. "The fulfillment of this duty cannot be judicially enforced."

2004 Governing Magazine - Whatever Happened To Competitive Elections? by Alan Greenblatt quote: Nearly 6,000 state legislators will be elected next month. Most of
them face little or no opposition.


WHICH PARTY CONTROLS THE 50 STATE LEGISLATURES?

Democrats Control:
1. Alabama 63 - 42 -- 2. Arkansas 72 - 28 -- 3. California 47 - 32 -- 4. Colorado 35 - 30
5. Connecticut 99 -52 -- 6. Hawaii 41 - 10 -- 7. Illinois 65 - 53 -- 8. Kentucky 57 - 43
9. Louisiana 67 - 37 -- 10. Maine 76 - 73 -- 11. Maryland 98 - 43 -- 12. Massachusetts 139 - 21
13. Mississippi 72 - 47 -- 14. New Jersey 47 - 33 -- 15. New Mexico 42 - 28 -- 16. Nevada 26 - 15
17. New York 104 - 44 -- 18. North Carolina 63 - 57 -- 19. Rhode Island 60 - 15
20. Tennessee 53 - 46 -- 21. Vermont 83 - 60 -- 22. Washington 55 - 43 -- 23. West Virginia 68 - 32

Republicans Control:

24. Alaska 14 - 26 -- 25. Arizona 22 - 38 -- 26. Delaware 15 - 26 -- 27. Florida 36 - 84 -- 28. Georgia 80 - 100
29. Idaho 13 - 57 -- 30. Iowa 49 - 51 -- 31. Indiana 48 - 52 -- 32. Kansas 42 - 83 -- 33. Michigan 52 - 58
34. Minnesota 66 - 68 -- 35. Missouri 64 - 97 -- 36. New Hampshire 149 - 251 -- (the 3rd largest parliamentary body in the English speaking world BTW) -- 37. North Dakota 27 - 67 -- 38. Ohio 39 - 60 -- 39. Oklahoma 44 - 57
40. Oregon 27 - 33 -- 41. Pennsylvania 92 - 110 -- 42. South Carolina 49 - 73 -- 43. South Dakota 19 - 51
44. Texas 62 - 87 -- 45. Utah 19 - 56 -- 46. Virginia 38 - 60 -- 47. Wisconsin 39 - 60
48. Wyoming 14 - 46

Split
49. Montana 50 - 50

Non Partisan
50. Nebraska

I hope I got all those number right -- JB Feucht :o)


July, 2005 Toledo Blade Amendments would shift authority over Ohio elections by Jim Provance Blade Columbus Bureau

August 2005 USA TODAY Editorial/Opinion - Revolt builds to force competitive elections

August 2005 USA TODAY Redistricting plans (bi)czar by Greg Hartmann Editorial/Opinion

October 2005 Governing Magazine Redistricting Monster Maps by Alan Greenblatt quote: There's a growing consensus among good-government reformers that
partisan mapmaking is the cause of many, if not most, contemporary political problems.

November 2005 Boston Globe Alito disagreed with court decisions on reapportionment by Michael Kranish and Alan Wirzbicki, Globe Staff and Globe Correspondent

December 2005 Washington Post Justice Staff Saw Texas Districting As Illegal by Dan Eggen Staff Writer

December 2005 C-Span Series Q & A 12/04/05 guest U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer quote "what I believe so much, that people have to participate in this democracy for it to work. I can‘t prove that, but I can say that the document, the Constitution foresees that they will participate. And if they don‘t participate themselves, I don‘t see how that system is going to work.".... read transcript or watch program... click on "Past Programs" at top of page

December 2005 Dallas Morning News AG says Texas remap approval not political quote: "Attorney General Al Gonzales said Friday that the Justice Department was not motivated by politics when it approved a controversial Texas congressional redistricting plan in 2003, overriding objections within the Civil Rights Division that minority voters would be harmed."..