Let's face it. While they work to better the country, one of the biggest goals of a congressman is ensure that they are re-elected. The following three concepts are all different ways of congressman trying to ensure they get re-elected.
Before you learn about a few of the ways congressmen try to get re-elected, let's see if you have what it takes. Click on the following game and attempt to satisfy your constituents to ensure you get re-elected!
http://www.icivics.org/games/represent-me - iCivics
Before you learn about a few of the ways congressmen try to get re-elected, let's see if you have what it takes. Click on the following game and attempt to satisfy your constituents to ensure you get re-elected!
http://www.icivics.org/games/represent-me - iCivics
Pork Barrell Spending
One way congressmen hope to be re-elected is by bringing money to their district. This often comes in the form of pork barrell spending. Pork barrell spending is spending that is specific to a particular district regarding some sort of project or business. It is only for the district the congressman represents, and can be considered wasted spending. Everyone wants money to come to their district, but the video below depicts just one example of why pork barrell spending is often casted in negative light.
YouTube video provided by: AFPFoundation
Casework
Similar to pork barrell, casework is the idea of congressman working to improve a situation in their district. Unlike pork barrell, however, casework tends to be a response to the constituents of the district. When you are thinking about a legislator, your hope is they are representing you. Many letters, phone calls, or emails can lead to casework. People expect their congressman to respond to their wants and needs, and that is exactly was casework is.
There are a few different models for how congressman represent their constituents.
Trustee Model - The elected officials are TRUSTED to make the best decisions they can while creating policy.
Delegate Model - The elected officials are expected to act based on the way their constituents want them to act or vote.
There are a few different models for how congressman represent their constituents.
Trustee Model - The elected officials are TRUSTED to make the best decisions they can while creating policy.
Delegate Model - The elected officials are expected to act based on the way their constituents want them to act or vote.
Gerrymandering
Every ten years, the United States completes a census. Because the number of representatives is set at 435, changes in population can signify changes in the number of representatives. This reapportionment of representatives can lead to a very interesting concept: gerrymandering. When a state loses or gains a representative, they must redraw the lines and boundaries of districts. Because the legislators are the ones who do this, the majority party often has a large advantage. They have the ability to draw the lines of a district in a way that they might have an advantage in the upcoming election. This can lead to very thin areas that wind and bend, all within the same district. The goal of gerrymandering is to ensure that the majority party is able to be re-elected. For obvious reasons, this has been labeled as unfair.
Please view some examples of gerrymandered districts from the following link:
http://pjmedia.com/zombie/2010/11/11/the-top-ten-most-gerrymandered-congressional-districts-in-the-united-states/
Please view some examples of gerrymandered districts from the following link:
http://pjmedia.com/zombie/2010/11/11/the-top-ten-most-gerrymandered-congressional-districts-in-the-united-states/
Redistricting Game
Check Time!!
Questions to answer:
Can you think of one idea that you would like to send to your Congressman with the hope of them supporting you with casework?
Do you think it would be fair for your Congressman to send your town a new train station because it would create jobs, even though a train station is not needed, an example of pork barrel spending?
Can you think of one idea that you would like to send to your Congressman with the hope of them supporting you with casework?
Do you think it would be fair for your Congressman to send your town a new train station because it would create jobs, even though a train station is not needed, an example of pork barrel spending?