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Welcome to the HSBC Public Policy Department's Website. Please peruse the site and see what is offered on political news (access to all the top news sites!), information on your elected officials, daily reports on developments in Washington that affect the banking industry and, for HPAC members, information on which political campaigns are receiving support from HPAC.
Redistricting 101:
U.S. Representatives, state legislators and many local elected officials are elected from districts. At least once per decade, the district lines are redrawn based upon the population changes measured by the U.S. Census. The results of the 2010 Census could have a significant impact on you and the candidates you vote for in the 2010 elections. Read on to learn more about the redistricting process for congressional districts and what it means for you.
According to the 2010 Census, there are 308,745,528 people in the U.S. and dividing the number of people by the mandated number of U.S. Representatives (435) gives you the new average number of people in each congressional district (709,760). This count forms the basis upon which the number of U.S. House seats were reapportioned, or reallocated, in late 2010 among the 50 states to try to get each federal district as close to 709,760 people as possible. Winners in the 2010 reapportionment process were Texas with four new U.S. House seats and Florida with two new seats. Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah and Washington each gained an additional seat. States losing U.S. House seats include Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York (two seats), Ohio (two seats) and Pennsylvania. Click here to view a map of the reapportionment changes by state.
Immediately following reapportionment, state officials across the country began the process of redrawing districts based upon the changed population counts. The redistricting process varies from state to state and, for some states covered under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the U.S. Justice Department must approve the redistricting plan. Click here to find out where your state is in the redistricting process. The final congressional district lines will take effect for the 2012 primary and general elections.
Please visit this website daily for the ABA Daily Reports to stay up-to-date on actions in Congress that affect the banking industry.
For further information, please contact the Public Policy department at 202-466-3561 or contact any of the Public Policy staff listed on this website.
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