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Utah HJR 1 — Joint Resolution on Redistricting Standards (2017)
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redistricting procedures |
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2020 |
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HJR 1, the Joint Rules Resolution on Redistricting Standards, was introduced in the Utah State Legislature during the 2017 general legislative session. HJR 1 proposed establishing a series of principles and procedures for state legislative restricting. In contrast with bills, which enact changes to state statutes, resolutions "generally have no force of law;" instead, resolutions "express legislative intent or position." Although HJR 1 was adopted by the Utah House of Representatives, the resolution failed to clear the Utah State Senate.[1][2]
Note: This page summarizes a noteworthy law regarding redistricting in Utah. It is not part of a comprehensive list of redistricting legislation for this year or state.
Background
Redistricting in Utah
- See also: Redistricting in Utah
Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Each of Utah's four United States Representatives and 104 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.[3][4][5][6]
Utah was apportioned four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census. Click here for more information about redistricting in Utah after the 2020 census.
Legislative history
HJR 1 was introduced in the Utah House of Representatives on January 23, 2017. The resolution's chief sponsor in the House was Merrill Nelson (R). The House Government Operations Committee reported favorably on the resolution on February 6, 2017. The House voted unanimously to adopt the resolution on February 17, 2017 (five members were absent or did not vote). The resolution then moved to the Utah State Senate. The resolution's chief sponsor in the Senate was Margaret Dayton (R). HJR 1 was referred to the Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee, which did not vote to recommend the legislation. HJR 1 was returned to the House, where it was filed as a bill not passed.[1]
Provisions
HJR 1 proposed establishing the following standards for state legislative redistricting in order of priority:[1]
- Compliance with the federal and state constitutions
- Equal populations between districts
- The resolution provided for "small deviations in population between districts for the purpose of complying with the other principles and procedures" outlined in the resolution.
- District contiguity
- District compactness
- Adherence to existing county and municipal boundaries "to the extent reasonably practicable"
- When creating districts spanning more than one county, joining areas that are connected by roads or that share common economic or other interests
The provisions of HJR 1 applied to legislative redistricting. Congressional redistricting was not addressed in the resolution.[1]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Utah State Legislature, "H.J.R. 1 Joint Rules Resolution on Redistricting Standards," accessed November 16, 2017
- ↑ Utah State Legislature, "About Resolutions," accessed November 16, 2017
- ↑ All About Redistricting, "Why does it matter?" accessed April 8, 2015
- ↑ Indy Week, "Cracked, stacked and packed: Initial redistricting maps met with skepticism and dismay," June 29, 2011
- ↑ The Atlantic, "How the Voting Rights Act Hurts Democrats and Minorities," June 17, 2013
- ↑ Redrawing the Lines, "The Role of Section 2 - Majority Minority Districts," accessed April 6, 2015
