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:
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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.
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