Congressional Redistricting

Benjamin Ginsberg of the Republican National Committee and Jeff Wice of the Democratic Legislative Leaders Association discussed the redistricting process and responded to telephone callers' questions on the politics involved in the process. Congressional redistricting occurs every ten years following the U.S. Census results. Congress apportions a number of House seats to each state based on the population in the state, and each state must create districts for each of its alloted House members that is approximately equal in population. The two men also discussed the decision by the Department of Commerce not to adjust the 1990 U.S. Census results to more accurately reflect the numbers of Americans who were not counted in the census process. close