The Legislative Branch: Part 2 - "Redistricting & Gerrymandering" ... and "How a Bill Becomes a Law"

What is the difference between reapportionment, redistricting and gerrymandering? What is packing and cracking, in relation to redistricting among states? How has the US Supreme Court ruled on the questions of redistricting and gerrymandering? What impact did Baker v. Carr have on redistricting? What impact did Shaw v. Reno have on minority districts? What impact does divided government have on the policy agenda and government today? How DOES a bill become a law? What is the legislative process in American Government today? How has party polarization impacted this process? Is Congress broken? What is the role of the House Rules Committee when it comes to the legislative process? What role do conference committees play? How are the Senate and House similar and different when it comes to the legislative process? Where does the real work get done? What are the steps to creating sound public policy in American Government today? Can it still be done? How can Americans influence the public policy process today? Find out the answers to these questions in Part 2 of our chapter overview on the legislative branch ... chapter 10/11 in our AP US Government & Politics class.