Senate Joint Resolution 2003 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION BY WARNSTADT Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 1 A Joint Resolution requesting the Congress of the United States 2 to submit to the states for ratification an amendment to the 3 United States Constitution providing for a nonpartisan 4 approach to congressional redistricting. 5 WHEREAS, the essence of a representative democracy is to have 6 an elected body that is truly representative of the population; 7 and 8 WHEREAS, congressional redistricting in many states has been 9 used to protect or defeat incumbents, and to enhance partisan 10 advantage; and 11 WHEREAS, congressional redistricting in some states has turned 12 the concept of representative democracy on its head by allowing 13 elected officials to select their constituents; and 14 WHEREAS, the current practice of partisan gerrymandering of 15 congressional districts leads to the establishment of very few 16 competitive congressional districts; and 17 WHEREAS, the lack of competition in congressional elections 18 limits the choices of Americans and leads to disenchantment with 19 the political process; NOW THEREFORE, 20 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 21 TLSB 5389XS 80 22 ec/gg/80 PAG LIN 1 1 That the Congress of the United States is hereby petitioned 1 2 to propose an amendment to the Constitution of the United 1 3 States, for submission to the states for ratification, to 1 4 prevent the consideration of partisan registration, past 1 5 partisan performance, and incumbent residency in establishing 1 6 new congressional districts following each decennial census; 1 7 and 1 8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be 1 9 transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the 1 10 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the 1 11 members of Iowa's congressional delegation. 1 12 EXPLANATION 1 13 This joint resolution constitutes a petition to the 1 14 Congress of the United States to propose a constitutional 1 15 amendment to prevent the consideration of partisan 1 16 registration, past partisan performance, and incumbent 1 17 residency in establishing new congressional districts 1 18 following each decennial census. 1 19 LSB 5389XS 80 1 20 ec/gg/14 1 21 1 22 1 23 1 24 1 25 1 26 1 27 1 28 1 29 1 30 1 31 1 32 1 33 1 34 1 35