TAMU POLS 207: LIM EXAM 4
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_28lzaz
1. Executive Branch Enforces laws.
2. Judicial Branch Interprets laws.
3. Legislative Makes the laws and represents the people.
4. Functions of Legislative Representation
Branch Making laws
Amending state constitutions
Constituent service
Bringing government funds to the districts
5. Representation Meetings- common in early Greek society and exists today in town
meetings in New England states. Starting in 1992- at least one of the
debates between the Republican and Democratic nominees for pres-
ident use a format characterized as "town hall". The presidential town
hall debates have only one thing in common w/ other and older meet-
ings: audience members could pose questions BUT most towns are too
large now and problems are too complex, so some individuals make
decisions for everyone "specialists in governmental decision-making
REPRESENTATIVES" which comes the Founding Fathers calling it the
"Republican" government.
6. Making Laws All state legislatures make statutory laws and most play a significant
role in amending state constitutions. Representatives must have infor-
mation before making a good law. Public hearings provide another op-
portunity for those concerned to engage legislators, present opinions,
and propose solutions. They engage in further deliberations through
committee meetings and meetings of the entire chamber. At least a
majority of those voting in each legislative chamber must agree on
an identical bill. Bills that pass state legislatures become laws UNLESS
vetoed by the governor (some cases legislatures can override vetoes
w/ supermajority votes in each chamber). Some laws are made just for
, TAMU POLS 207: LIM EXAM 4
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_28lzaz
political reasons with no true intentions to actually be carried out (just
for status).
7. Constituent Service Helping people from their own districts. They also write to congratulate
district residents on achievement such as success in athletic or other
competitions, retirements, wedding anniversaries, and other signifi-
cant life events reported in local newspapers. Legislators think all forms
of constituent service enhance their prospects in future elections.
8. Bringing Government State legislators are as active as members in Congress in seeking
Funds to the District funds/programs to benefit their districts. (members of Congress usu-
ally take advantage of every opportunity to take credit for anything
that boosts their districts. State legislators are less inclined to do so
because maybe state legislators feel more confident of their reelection
and don't bother or maybe it's the culture of Congress).
9. Legislators as Represen- Geographic Representation
tatives Heterogeneous Districts
Homogeneous Districts
Non-Geographic Representation
Entrepreneurial
Random Selection
10. Geographic Representa- State legislatures establish their own districts and the districts for
tion members of the U.S. House of Representatives. When districts
first started meeting, most of the townspeople were illiterate so
face-to-face communication was the most effective way to make de-
cisions. Since the 18th Century, it made geographically defined dis-
tricts the only alternative and they have been used ever since. EACH
STATE HAS TWO SENATORS AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ARE
POPULATION BASED. Compactness and contiguity were required for
congressional districts starting in 1901.
, TAMU POLS 207: LIM EXAM 4
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_28lzaz
11. Compactness Districts should closely match a square or rectangle because that is the
most compact way to divide geographic area. It was an easy standard
to meet because land/counties was platted by local governments into
square and rectangular sections.
12. Contiguity All portions of the district must be in contact with each other. Districts
are not contiguous if they have a little portion here and another several
miles away. It remains the only spatial requirement for contemporary
geographic districts.
13. Problems of Geographic The costs or liabilities of geographic representation were not great
Representation at one time. Today we pay high costs for geographic selection of
representatives.
14. Heterogeneous Districts The mix of different people: Houston or New York City (harder to
represent, more costly). Forces the representative and his/her sup-
porters to compromise even to win election, and that this is essential
to democracy. Makes representation difficult (especially for minorities)
but encourages compromise to win voter support before elections.
15. Homogeneous Districts District where most everyone is the same. Usually the minorities that
get grouped together. People in these districts may share little other
than skin color; they may have little sense of who shares their district or
a sense of community in the district. Also, the surrounding non-minor-
ity districts may share little other than the fact that they are not minority
districts. Most modern districts lack compactness and any sense of
identity. This makes representation easier but force compromise to
take place after elections.
16. Alternatives for Select- Because of technology, we don't need to gather prospective voters
ing Representatives to hear candidates face-to-face. Although it's expensive, candidates
depend on television and new style (negative campaigns costing many
times more than what their elected positions pay in salaries). This is
, TAMU POLS 207: LIM EXAM 4
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_28lzaz
done by voting by mail which made voting more convenient but has
not increased voter turnout.
17. Non-Geographic Dis- Virtual districts: computer technology and social data could allow gov-
tricts ernments to assign segment of society likely to share opinions on
government policies to virtual districts. The purpose of abandoning
geographic representation would be to increase the probability that
representation will be like those they represent.
18. Entrepreneurial Repre- MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. could serve as models
sentatives for a system of entrepreneurial representation. Prospective legislators
could solicit constituents similar to the way social networks encourage
friendships. Texas legislature has 31 in the Senate and 150 in the
House.
19. Randomly Selected Rep- Within the limits of sampling error, every characteristic of the public
resentatives would then be reflected within the halls of government. This would be
somewhat similar to the way we presently select a pool of individuals
as potential trial jurors, except that all would be eligible, none could
be stricken for bias, and the sample would be the same size as the
number of seats in the legislature. Very few would have the luck of
being selected but all the most extreme should find their ideas present
in government.
20. Apportioning and Dis- Starting in 1963, court decisions and federal statutes made population
tricting Population the central criterion for legislative apportionment and districting. They
all pursued the same goal: equalizing individual citizens' impact on
legislative elections. The only way to achieve this goal in contemporary
America is making voting mandatory and severely punishing those who
do not.
21. Equal Population Re- Equal number of people in the district. The U.S. Census of 1960 made
quirements the inequity all the more evident. For example, in Florida, state senate
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_28lzaz
1. Executive Branch Enforces laws.
2. Judicial Branch Interprets laws.
3. Legislative Makes the laws and represents the people.
4. Functions of Legislative Representation
Branch Making laws
Amending state constitutions
Constituent service
Bringing government funds to the districts
5. Representation Meetings- common in early Greek society and exists today in town
meetings in New England states. Starting in 1992- at least one of the
debates between the Republican and Democratic nominees for pres-
ident use a format characterized as "town hall". The presidential town
hall debates have only one thing in common w/ other and older meet-
ings: audience members could pose questions BUT most towns are too
large now and problems are too complex, so some individuals make
decisions for everyone "specialists in governmental decision-making
REPRESENTATIVES" which comes the Founding Fathers calling it the
"Republican" government.
6. Making Laws All state legislatures make statutory laws and most play a significant
role in amending state constitutions. Representatives must have infor-
mation before making a good law. Public hearings provide another op-
portunity for those concerned to engage legislators, present opinions,
and propose solutions. They engage in further deliberations through
committee meetings and meetings of the entire chamber. At least a
majority of those voting in each legislative chamber must agree on
an identical bill. Bills that pass state legislatures become laws UNLESS
vetoed by the governor (some cases legislatures can override vetoes
w/ supermajority votes in each chamber). Some laws are made just for
, TAMU POLS 207: LIM EXAM 4
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_28lzaz
political reasons with no true intentions to actually be carried out (just
for status).
7. Constituent Service Helping people from their own districts. They also write to congratulate
district residents on achievement such as success in athletic or other
competitions, retirements, wedding anniversaries, and other signifi-
cant life events reported in local newspapers. Legislators think all forms
of constituent service enhance their prospects in future elections.
8. Bringing Government State legislators are as active as members in Congress in seeking
Funds to the District funds/programs to benefit their districts. (members of Congress usu-
ally take advantage of every opportunity to take credit for anything
that boosts their districts. State legislators are less inclined to do so
because maybe state legislators feel more confident of their reelection
and don't bother or maybe it's the culture of Congress).
9. Legislators as Represen- Geographic Representation
tatives Heterogeneous Districts
Homogeneous Districts
Non-Geographic Representation
Entrepreneurial
Random Selection
10. Geographic Representa- State legislatures establish their own districts and the districts for
tion members of the U.S. House of Representatives. When districts
first started meeting, most of the townspeople were illiterate so
face-to-face communication was the most effective way to make de-
cisions. Since the 18th Century, it made geographically defined dis-
tricts the only alternative and they have been used ever since. EACH
STATE HAS TWO SENATORS AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ARE
POPULATION BASED. Compactness and contiguity were required for
congressional districts starting in 1901.
, TAMU POLS 207: LIM EXAM 4
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_28lzaz
11. Compactness Districts should closely match a square or rectangle because that is the
most compact way to divide geographic area. It was an easy standard
to meet because land/counties was platted by local governments into
square and rectangular sections.
12. Contiguity All portions of the district must be in contact with each other. Districts
are not contiguous if they have a little portion here and another several
miles away. It remains the only spatial requirement for contemporary
geographic districts.
13. Problems of Geographic The costs or liabilities of geographic representation were not great
Representation at one time. Today we pay high costs for geographic selection of
representatives.
14. Heterogeneous Districts The mix of different people: Houston or New York City (harder to
represent, more costly). Forces the representative and his/her sup-
porters to compromise even to win election, and that this is essential
to democracy. Makes representation difficult (especially for minorities)
but encourages compromise to win voter support before elections.
15. Homogeneous Districts District where most everyone is the same. Usually the minorities that
get grouped together. People in these districts may share little other
than skin color; they may have little sense of who shares their district or
a sense of community in the district. Also, the surrounding non-minor-
ity districts may share little other than the fact that they are not minority
districts. Most modern districts lack compactness and any sense of
identity. This makes representation easier but force compromise to
take place after elections.
16. Alternatives for Select- Because of technology, we don't need to gather prospective voters
ing Representatives to hear candidates face-to-face. Although it's expensive, candidates
depend on television and new style (negative campaigns costing many
times more than what their elected positions pay in salaries). This is
, TAMU POLS 207: LIM EXAM 4
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_28lzaz
done by voting by mail which made voting more convenient but has
not increased voter turnout.
17. Non-Geographic Dis- Virtual districts: computer technology and social data could allow gov-
tricts ernments to assign segment of society likely to share opinions on
government policies to virtual districts. The purpose of abandoning
geographic representation would be to increase the probability that
representation will be like those they represent.
18. Entrepreneurial Repre- MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. could serve as models
sentatives for a system of entrepreneurial representation. Prospective legislators
could solicit constituents similar to the way social networks encourage
friendships. Texas legislature has 31 in the Senate and 150 in the
House.
19. Randomly Selected Rep- Within the limits of sampling error, every characteristic of the public
resentatives would then be reflected within the halls of government. This would be
somewhat similar to the way we presently select a pool of individuals
as potential trial jurors, except that all would be eligible, none could
be stricken for bias, and the sample would be the same size as the
number of seats in the legislature. Very few would have the luck of
being selected but all the most extreme should find their ideas present
in government.
20. Apportioning and Dis- Starting in 1963, court decisions and federal statutes made population
tricting Population the central criterion for legislative apportionment and districting. They
all pursued the same goal: equalizing individual citizens' impact on
legislative elections. The only way to achieve this goal in contemporary
America is making voting mandatory and severely punishing those who
do not.
21. Equal Population Re- Equal number of people in the district. The U.S. Census of 1960 made
quirements the inequity all the more evident. For example, in Florida, state senate
