The word gerrymander comes from a famous case of redistricting in massachusetts in 1812. In the ugly racial history of redistricting, cracking was often. In this lesson, well consider examples of gerrymandering, some typical. The congressional redistricting plans put forward in california after the 2000 census worked across party lines in order to entrench the electoral safety of the states representatives. Spreading voters of one type over many districts where they will. And it creates districts of voters who are socioeconomically, racially or politically alike so that members of congress are safe from potential challengers and, as a result, have little reason to compromise with their colleagues from the other party. Study 47 terms political science flashcards quizlet. Majority party draws district lines to gain an advantage.
American government exam two questions flashcards quizlet. Cracking reduces the voting power of a certain party or community by splitting its population and spreading its members among several districts where they become an irrelevant minority. Carr, the supreme court held that federal courts had jurisdiction to consider redistricting plans for the first time. Concentrations of the opposing party into a few districts in gerrymandering. One point is earned for a correct definition of congressional reapportionment. Apportionment and gerrymandering learn with flashcards, games, and more for. This practice also helps make districts less competitive. Stacking, cracking and packing american civil liberties. After a census has been completed, it must be determined if a states government as well as that states county, and local governments have sufficient representatives for their population. Spreading voters of one type over many districts where they will comprise minorities that are unable to influence elections. Cracking or packing must be tied to one of the above in order to earn.
Types of gerrymandering cracking, packing, pairing. Cracking voters of the opposing party are scattered and divided of the opposite party among many districts, spreading them out in the hope that your party has. Explain the relationship between redistricting and the united states census. The parties to the wisconsin case and we in the general public know some of the effects of packing, cracking and tricks in redistricting. Redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population. Redistricting is the process of redrawing the lines that separate the congressional districts.
Packing concentrates voters of one party or community in as few districts as possible to reduce their influence in the remaining districts. Gerrymandering often leads to disproportionate politicians from one party being elected to office. In gill, a group of democratic voters challenged republicancontrolled redistricting in wisconsin in 2011. In 2012, under the new map, republican candidates for the state assembly garnered a minority, 48. The essence of a partisan gerrymander is manipulating district lines around a set of voters that will elect your partys candidate. Packing, cracking and the art of gerrymandering around. You are given the definition of the word, a blank space to fill in the word, and no word bank. By its definition, gerrymandering is manipulating district boundaries for. In the ugly racial history of redistricting, cracking was often used to ensure that africanamericans could not elect africanamerican politicians. Information and translations of gerrymandering in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Gerrymandering definition, the dividing of a state, county, etc. Whitford, involves a 2011 redistricting of wisconsins legislature that cemented republican control in that state and was subsequently struck down by a. Carr, redistricting, splintering cracking, packing.
Partisan gerrymandering claims present political questions be yond the. Gerrymander definition is the act or method of gerrymandering. We will take a closer look at the process and effects of reapportionment and redistricting. The number of members of the house of representatives is set at 435. Gerrymandering definition is the practice of dividing or arranging a territorial unit into election districts in a way that gives one political party an unfair advantage in elections. Incidentally, the dictionary of gerrymandering is long and hilarious.
Various rules and constraints limit where district lines may or may not be drawn. Friedman and holden 2009 nd no signi cant empirical difference between bipartisan and partisan gerrymandering in explaining incumbent reelection rates. For additional resources on these criteria, see here. The cooperation between californias democrats and republicans was due in large part to the unique pressures the state places on its representatives, such as.
Gerrymandering is the process of drawing congressional districts in a way that favors. What is the difference between packing and cracking in gerrymandering. We think of gerrymandering primarily as cracking, but successful redistricting requires both techniques to stack the odds. Reapportionment noun the noun reapportionment has 1 sense 1. Whitford, involves a 2011 redistricting of wisconsins legislature that cemented republican control in that state and was subsequently struck down by a federal court last year. Whatever political party redraws districts to best suit their political party. Those who have the redistricting pen dont have a blank slate for drawing the lines. Redistricting is the process of drawing boundaries for electoral and political districts in the u. The classic in mission two you experience the classic abuse of the redistricting system. Although in the 1812 election both the massachusetts house and governorship were won by federalists by a comfortable margin and cost gerry his job, the redistricted state senate remained firmly in democraticrepublican hands. The court found unanimously 90 that the plaintiffs, a group of 12 wisconsin democratic voters, lacked standing to sue under. Redistricting to keep voting fair and equitable is legal although it may be challenged in court. Our result suggests that gerrymanderers may not be as free in redistricting as popularly thought. Consequently, redistricting has a direct bearing on what matters a legislature chooses to tackle, and which to ignore.
This technique splits a community into multiple districts to ensure it doesnt have significant sway with a candidate. With cracking, you dilute an areas voting power by slicing up its congressional representation. Gerrymander definition of gerrymander by merriamwebster. Chapter 7 geographic districting flashcards quizlet. The legality of partisan redistricting and gerrymandering its not often that movie stars grace the front steps of the united states supreme court. Gerrymandering is the process of drawing congressional districts in a way that favors one political party or interest group. Cracking means dispersing a group of voters into several districts to prevent them from reaching a majority. Supreme court limits on redistricting in the 1962 case of baker v. Identify and discuss two political consequences that could result from redistricting. Constitution requires each representative in congress represent an equal number of citizens and mandates a census to determine the number of citizens and apportion seats to each state. Start studying redistricting, reapportionment, and gerrymandering. Stuarts depiction of an 1812 massachusetts redistricting scheme favoring the political party of governor elbridge gerry was the inspiration for the term gerrymander.
Cracking involves drawing districts in such a way as to divide a concentration of specific types of voters across several districts such that they are a minority in each one, with practically no hope of achieving representation in any of the districts. Gerrymandering definition of gerrymandering by merriam. Apportionment is the allocation of legislative seats in jurisdictions based on. In early october, however, actor and former california governor arnold schwarzenegger led a protest outside the court as. Redistricting, reapportionment, and gerrymandering quizlet. Library of congress the process of dividing a particular state or territory into election districts in such a manner as to accomplish an unlawful purpose. Redistricting also affects whether the nations diverse communities are represented in its.
Redistricting definition, to divide anew into districts, as for administrative or electoral purposes. It determines which party controls congress and state and local governments across the country. Redistricting is one of the most important processes in american politics. Support our response to covid19 your gift will fund our critical work to protect voting rights, demand that vulnerable people in prisons, jails and immigration detention centers be released, and fight to ensure reproductive health care remains open and accessible to all who need it.
The two principle tactics used in gerrymandering are cracking and packing. Is gerrymandering and partisan redistricting allowed. Packing means combining as many likeminded voters into one district as possible to. A congressional act passed in 1967 requires that representatives be elected from singlemember districts, except when a state has a single representative, in which case one statewide atlarge election be held.
For example, the constitution gives congress the power to coin money. This example of reapportionment is actually done through a complex mathematical formula that ensures the most even distribution of house seats. Supreme court on june 18, 2018, vacated and remanded a u. Dispersion of opposing party into districts to dilute power.
Gerrymandering definition and examples in politics. Reapportionment and redistricting mean essentially the same thing. For this reason many students do not do well on the ap world history vocabulary quizzes. The assignment of representatives is based upon state populations, and within the states the districts are drawn based upon population. Reapportionment definition, examples, cases, processes. In 1976, the court declared that the justice department could refuse to preclear redistricting. Gerrymandering is an abuse of power, it creates safe districts that diminish competition for the congressional seats, it disenfranchises portions of the population and it heightens polarization. The governor at the time, elbridge gerry, signed a map into law that included a district shaped like a salamander. Redistricting is the process of drawing electoral district boundaries in the united states. Urban residents in austin certainly share some common concerns in austin, but they are cracked between 5 different members of congress. The way congressional and legislative boundaries are drawn determines who wins federal and state elections, and ultimately which political party holds the power in making crucial policy decisions. The redistricting was a notable success for gerrys democraticrepublican party. Redistricting the redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population malapportionment. Redistricting is a federally governed process designed to ensure that congressional districts adequately reflect the shifts in population distribution.
There is a difference between redistricting and gerrymandering. Cracking and packing texas congressional districts texas. Reapportionment is the process redistributing seats in the house of representatives, or other legislative body, according to the population in each state. This makes sense when you zoom out to the state level.
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