Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2020 November 4

Welcome to the Wikipedia Humanities Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is a transcluded archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

November 4

When does the 2020 United States Census count take effect to get reflected in the "new" United States congressional apportionment?

When does the 2020 United States Census count take effect to get reflected in the "new" United States congressional apportionment? In other words, if a State gains/loses any Congressional seats, when does that take effect? Also, how does that take effect? Thanks. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 19:25, 4 November 2020 (UTC)

Traditionally, the goal is to reapportion, redistrict and be ready to go by the time elections are held in the "2" year (this time around, 2022)... AnonMoos (talk) 19:52, 4 November 2020 (UTC)

Thanks. So, let's say that a hypothetical state gains 2 seats. They simply hold 2 "extra" elections to fill those 2 new seats. (Right?) If another hypothetical state loses 2 seats ... what do they do with those 2 "extra" representatives? (Simply say, "you can't run for re-election this year, because your seat is being removed"?) How do they decide which 2 representatives (of the total representatives from that state) to "get rid of"? Thanks. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 19:57, 4 November 2020 (UTC)

I don't know anything about how things are specifically being done right now, but traditionally if a state is allocated, say, four members of the House of Representatives before the census of year umpty-0, but the results of the census taken in year umpty-0 reveal that it will be allocated three representatives in the following decade, then in the year umpty-1 the state legislature draws up new boundaries dividing the state into three completely new districts (in place of the former four districts), and in the year umpty-2 primary and general elections are held, and then late in the year umpty-2 (when the terms of the House members elected in umpty-0 have expired), the new members elected in umpty-2 go to Washington and take their seats... AnonMoos (talk) 20:17, 4 November 2020 (UTC)

Ok. Thanks. That makes sense. So, basically ... in your scenario ... assume no one quits, retires, or resigns from office, etc. ... you'd basically have four reps vying for only three jobs ... and they would be "narrowed down" through primary, election, etc. Thanks! Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 20:59, 4 November 2020 (UTC)

Thanks! Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 17:42, 5 November 2020 (UTC)

Resolved

I know this was resolved, but one thing to remember is that, in the House of Representatives, the whole house is elected every 2-year cycle, which means literally the entire house is "gotten rid of". No one gets to stay unless they are elected again. If a state loses a seat due to reapportionment, then yes, only 3 of the 4 incumbents will get to run again in the general election. Which one gets "knocked out" would likely be decided in a primary election (if the redundant politician was of the same party as their new opponent), but it could be decided in a general election if the two were in different parties. This also happens even if a state doesn't lose a seat, but redraws their election maps so that two incumbents are now resident in the same district. While one could "move" to a new district if they needed to, they may not, and sometimes it does happen that a redrawn map will lead to 2 incumbents directly competing even if the state didn't lose any seats. --Jayron32 18:05, 5 November 2020 (UTC)

Thanks for the added input. Much appreciated. Yes, it all makes sense now that I gave it further thought, with the help of all of the above replies. Thank you. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 18:41, 5 November 2020 (UTC)

For a real world example, see the 2012 election here. --Khajidha (talk) 22:32, 5 November 2020 (UTC)

Virginia Prince year of graduation

I'm looking for Virginia Prince's year of graduation from Pomona College to help get List of Pomona College people to FL status. It's listed here as 1935, but that's probably not a RS. Could someone who has access to Taylor & Francis tell me whether it is included in this article? (My Wikipedia Library application a week or two ago unfortunately has not been reviewed in a timely fashion.) {{u|Sdkb}} ^talk 22:37, 4 November 2020 (UTC)

That article does not contain the terms "Pomona" or "College". In terms of dates it jumps from her birth in 1912 to "In 1939 she gained her PhD". But according to the register of UCB^[1] she earned her A.B. (Artium Baccalaureus, Bachelor of Arts) from Pomona College (then still as Arnold Lowman) in 1935, where she had enrolled in 1931.^[2]  --Lambiam 00:36, 5 November 2020 (UTC)

Lambiam, wow, you all are some impressive fact-finders. That works; thanks! {{u|Sdkb}} ^talk 04:26, 5 November 2020 (UTC)