Does congress have the power to change the laws regarding gerrymandering?

[SoCalDem]

I know that states run their elections, but as long as the sum total of congresspeople dictates the direction of the whole nation, it's patently unfair for EITHER party to be able to gerrymander districts to fit a certain congressperson, or party.

Computers have surely advanced to the point where each state could be "gridded" according to population, and let the cards fall where they may.

the states could still run their elections, but they would no longer be able to design districts to suit whichever party happens to be in control at any given time.

[Recovered Repug]

1. Most of the members of the House are in "safe" districts

because of gerrymandering. Do you really believe they would change that?

[NC_Nurse]

2. Didn't voters in FL just pass a set of rules for the drawing of districts that

Restricts gerrymandering? Every state should be looking into that.

[RB TexLa]

3. And what other political processes do you want to take politics out of?

[Historic NY]

4. To the victors go the spoils.

[TheBigotBasher]

5. Presented well

this could be a cross party issue but it needs very careful presentation.

[BzaDem]

6. I believe the Constitution would have to be changed. n/t

[FBaggins]

7. It has been tried.

The Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c109:1:./temp/~c109supwHy:e1137:

It didn't get anywhere. There are serious Constitutional questions re: an entire restructuring at the federal level.

OTOH, The Voting Rights Act proves that a federal law can play a significant role in redistricting. I think that they could get as far as mandating common requirements (compactness, contiguity, communities of interest, etc), but I doubt they could get as far as removing the role of the state legislature.

Nor could you likely find a majority of congressmen in either party who were willing to do it.

[Cresent City Kid]

8. I don't expect this to change in my lifetime

Computers aren't even needed, this could be done with 18th century surveying, just not as quickly. It's like the economy, when something is working for those in power, it will persist. Every two years redistricting and the electoral college are briefly debated and nothing ever changes.