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| WEB EXTRA: Proposals for Drawing Political Maps, Step-By-Step |
UNDATED (AP) -- Every 10 years, Illinois officials draw new legislative districts to reflect population changes. This year, there's a strong cry to come up with a new way of drawing those maps so fewer political games could be played with the boundaries.
Here's a look at the current system and the two chief alternatives:
CURRENT SYSTEM
* Criteria: Districts must be compact, contiguous and roughly equal in population. Districts must conform to Voting Rights Act requirements on protecting minorities.
* Each Senate district contains two House districts.
* Lawmakers try to pass a redistricting plan through both legislative chambers and get it signed into law. Simple majority needed.
* If lawmakers fail, commission of eight people -- four Democrats and four Republicans -- tries to produce a map.
* If commission deadlocks, a ninth person is added as the tie-breaking vote. Random chance determines whether this person is a Democrat or Republican.
"FAIR MAP" PROPOSAL
* Criteria: Minority protections go beyond Voting Rights Act. Avoid dividing municipalities. Don't favor either political party. Compact, contiguous, equal population.
* Senate districts no longer have to contain two House districts.
* Legislative leaders appoint an eight-member commission. Commissioners choose a ninth person to serve as chair. After hearings, commissioners vote on Senate map and House map to submit to Legislature.
* Each legislative chamber takes up-or-down vote on its map, with no amendments allowed. Two-thirds majority required for passage.
* If that fails, commission can make revisions and send it back to Legislature. More rejections would allow the commission itself to choose a map.
* If the commission can't decide, the top Democrat and Republican on the Illinois Supreme Court would appoint a "special master" to decide.
SENATE PROPOSAL
* Criteria: Stronger minority-voter language, including protection for enclaves too small to dominate a district. Avoid dividing municipalities. Compact, contiguous, equal population.
* Senate districts no longer have to contain two House districts.
* After hearings, lawmakers try to pass a redistricting plan and get it signed into law. Simple majority needed.
* If that fails, Senate comes up with Senate map, House with House map. Each chamber approves its map by resolution, meaning the governor isn't involved. Three-fifths vote required.
* If a chamber fails to act, a bipartisan commission comes up with map for that chamber.
* If a commission deadlocks, a special master appointed by members of the Supreme Court decides the map.
* If all else fails, the Legislature can approve a new map by law. Three-fifths vote required.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) |
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| 04 24 10 by Newsroom |
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