Final answer:
Members of the historic Louisiana commission were carefully selected to ensure bipartisan representation, with five members from the Senate, House, and Supreme Court, totaling fifteen members. The commission's role was to count disputed election returns. The commission's balance included seven Republicans, seven Democrats, and one intended independent member.
Step-by-step explanation:
The qualifications for members of the Louisiana commission, as described historically around the time of the 1876 presidential election, can be seen in the context of the electoral commission created by Congress. This commission determined which returns from Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina would be counted. The body consisted of five members from the Senate, five from the House, and five from the Supreme Court, leading to a total of 15 members. The composition was delicately balanced, with seven Democrats, seven Republicans, and one supposed independent to break any potential ties.
Expectations were that the independent member would be Supreme Court Justice David Davis, but he did not serve due to becoming a U.S. senator for Illinois. The deciding member from the Supreme Court turned out to be Republican Joseph Bradley instead. By design, unless both chambers of Congress voted to overrule it, the commission's decision was to be final, highlighting its meant-to-be nonpartisan and decisive role.
In terms of redistricting, the question of whether it should be a partisan issue or whether commissions should be responsible for drawing districts is debated. If commissions are to draw districts, determining who should serve on them remains a contentious topic.