Idaho Social Studies 9-12.GOV.31
The Standard
Describe the census and its role in redistricting and reapportionment, including the role of Baker v. Carr.
Idaho Content Standards: K-12 Social Studies · Function And Structure of the U.S. Political System
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students explain how the ten-year census count helps determine each state's number of U.S. House seats. They explain how states redraw district lines and how Baker v. Carr allowed federal courts to hear challenges to state legislative districts.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Given a population change, students can tell whether a decision concerns House seats among states or district lines within a state. They can explain that Baker v. Carr let courts hear districting challenges, but did not draw the districts.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think the census counts only voters or draws district lines. They may confuse assigning House seats to states with redrawing lines within a state. Some think Baker v. Carr set exact district sizes.
How to Assess It
- Ask: “A state gains a House seat after the census. What happens in reapportionment, what happens in redistricting, and what did Baker v. Carr allow courts to do?”
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs a 3-by-4 grid with 100 residents per square; have them draw three connected districts of 400 residents each.
Ask students to write one sentence answering: “Why can a federal court hear a challenge to unequal state legislative districts?”
Have students sort cards labeled “census count,” “House seats per state,” “new district lines,” and “court challenge” into order.
Compare your state's House seat totals after the 2010 and 2020 censuses, then count districts on its 2022 congressional map.
Free download
Printable 9-12.GOV.31 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 9-12.GOV.31, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetKeep exploring
Related Standards
- 9-12.GOV.54
Explain the role of state governments in administering elections and compare different state’s voting rules and elections laws.
- 9-12.GOV.15
Evaluate the roles of the federal and state governments in the Civil Rights Movement.
- 9-12.GOV.53
Explain the impact of reapportionment and redistricting on elections and governance.
- 9-12.GOV.16
Explain the role and evolution of political parties in governing and in the recruitment/election of political candidates and the importance of and difference be...
Turn this exact standard into a lesson
Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.
Also for this standard:Make a WorksheetMake a QuizMake a Sub Lesson