NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this bell ringer activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
SUMMARY
Texas lawmakers are revisiting their congressional maps in a rare mid-decade review to redraw their lines in favor of Republicans. President Trump urged leaders in the state to restructure their maps in an attempt to maintain GOP control of the House. Ali Rogin discussed the Lone Star State’s redistricting battle with Abby Livingston of Puck.
View the transcript of the story.
News alternative: Check out recent segments from the News Hour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- Who is being favored in the restructuring of Texas’s congressional maps?
- Why has President Trump urged Texas leaders to restructure their congressional maps?
- How does the redistricting process work?
- When is the Texas redistricting expected to take place?
- What impact could the redistricting have on next year’s midterm elections?
FOCUS QUESTIONS
- How do you feel about the redistricting of Texas’s congressional maps?
- How might these changes to Texas’s congressional maps impact the U.S. as a whole? Do you think it could cause an increase in political division among citizens?
Media literacy: How would you help resolve any conflicts that this may cause between Americans?
WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO
Read this article to learn more about the Texas redistricting battle. Discuss the following questions with a partner:
- What did you learn from this article? What are your major takeaways?
- Which states seem to be for and against this proposal?
- In what ways could the redrawing of Texas’s congressional districts affect the broader U.S. political landscape?
Written by Payton Alfieri, PBS News Hour Classroom's intern and senior at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., and News Hour's Vic Pasquantonio.
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