Events: April 25, 2006

Restoring Electoral Competition:
Research and Remedies for Redistricting

Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey Center
301 19th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55455
*Advance registration is appreciated.

Representative democracy relies on competitive elections to motivate government officials to respond to the interests and wishes of citizens. The reality today is that American legislative elections are not competitive. More than nine out of ten members of the U.S. House of Representatives are persistently re-elected. In 2004, only seven incumbents were defeated in 2004 and most (four) resulted from the Texas shenanigans. In 2006, only three dozen of the 435 House seats are likely to be competitive. Although redistricting is not the sole cause of weak competitiveness, it is a significant factor and one of the few that can be addressed by reform.

In addition to weakening the ability of voters to hold government officials accountable, weak competition also contributes to the high and rising political polarization in America. Because incumbents rarely have to worry about losing an election or facing a tight race, they are free to pursue the extreme positions favored by ideological activists and special interests.

The Center for the Study of Politics and Governance in the Humphrey Institute and the Law School at the University of Minnesota are organizing a conference to generate new analysis of redistricting that contributes to reform. The conference brings together leading scholars from political science, law, and non-academic think tanks with policy makers, journalists, and others interested in the state of American democracy to address the seminal issues of today's debate about redistricting. Presenters include lawyers involved in the Texas redistricting lawsuit, Tom Mann from the Brookings Institution, Bob Benenson from Congressional Quarterly, and leading observers of American politics.

Conference Agenda

Welcome and Introduction (9:00am - 9:30am)

Lawrence R. Jacobs (Humphrey Institute and Department of Political Science, University of Minnesota)

Guy Charles (Law School, University of Minnesota), "Electoral Competition, Redistricting, and American Democracy"

I. American Political Development: 19th Century Redistricting, Tom Delay Style (9:30am - 10:30am)

Erik Engstrom (Political Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) and Jason Roberts (Political Science, University of Minnesota), "The Politics of Congressional Redistricting, Past and Present"

Moderator and Discussant: Skip Humphrey (Tunhein Partners)

Discussant: Bob Benenson (Congressional Quarterly)

Break: 10:30am - 10:45am

II. Institutional Mechanisms for Redistricting and Competition (10:45am - 12:30pm)

Jamie Carson (Political Science, University of Georgia) and Michael Crespin (APSA Congressional Fellow and University of Georgia)," The Competitive Effects of Redistricting Approaches: Legislatures, Courts, and Commissions over Time"

Sam Issacharoff (Law School, New York University) and Jonathan Nagler (Department of Politics, New York University)," Diminishing Margins of Electoral Competition in US Congressional Elections"

Nathaniel Persily (Law School, Stanford University and University of Pennsylvania), "Redistricting Reform: Promises and Obstacles"

Discussants:

Myron Orfield (Law School, University of Minnesota)

Gary Jacobson (Political Science, University of California at San Diego)

Lunch: 12:30pm - 2:00pm

Lunchtime Speakers:

Former Governor Arne Carlson and former Vice President Walter Mondale

III. Redistricting, Competition, and Voting Rights (2:00pm - 3:00pm)

Guy Charles (Law School, University of Minnesota), "The Future of Racial Representation: Influence or Coalitional Districts"

Moderator: Mark Rotenberg (General Counsel, University of Minnesota)

Discussants:

David Canon (Political Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison)

David Lublin (Department of Government, School of Public Affairs, American University)

Break: 3:00pm - 3:15pm

IV. New Approaches to Redistricting (3:30pm - 5:00pm)

Thomas E. Mann, (Brookings Institution), "The Politics of Redistricting Reform"

Sam Hirsch (Jenner & Block's Washington, DC Office), "A Model State Constitutional Amendment to Reform Redistricting"

Moderator: Lawrence R Jacobs (Humphrey Institute and Depatment of Political Science, University of Minnesota)

Discussant:
Minnesota State Senator Larry Pogemiller (Invited)
Minnesota State Representative Ron Abrams (Invited)

Registration and cost:
The cost for the conference is $20; $10 for University students, staff and faculty who wish to attend lunch; and FREE for University students, staff and faculty without lunch. To register for this event please email: cspg@hhh.umn.edu with your name, address, and telephone number by April 21. Please indicate whether you will be joining us for lunch.

Registration fees may be paid in advance by check made payable to the University of Minnesota and sent to: Jennifer Thompson, Coordinator, CSPG, Room 138 D Humphrey Institute, 301 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Registration fees will be accepted at the door in the form of cash or check.

Directions and parking information: www.hhh.umn.edu/about/contact/parking.html