Gerrymandering

Today’s Objective

After today’s lesson, students will be able to…

Define reapportionment, redistricting, and gerrymandering

Describe the differences between the three terms

Essential Skill Demonstrate and understanding of concepts

Reapportionment

The process of redistributing the 435 House of Representatives seats based on population

Determined using the preceding census to allot states seats

Important because states can gain or lose power in the United States House of Representatives

Redistricting

The redrawing of congressional or other district lines after the census

Done to accommodate population shifts make districts as near to equal in total population

Gerrymandering To manipulate the boundaries of an

electoral constituency (population) so as to favor one party or class

Wesberry v. Sanders

Districts have to have equal population sizes (“one person, one vote”)

Decreased influence of rural population

Courts do not strike down gerrymandering unless they violate Voting Rights Act

Population Equality

Contiguity

Not compactness

Effects of Gerrymandering

Makes districts less competitive Gives incumbents the advantage Increases campaign costs Decrease in descriptive representation Dilutes minorities votes

Majority – Minority Districts

Districts drawn to give African Americans, or other minority groups, a chance to elect representatives

Controversy? Should districts be based on race?

Is it discrimination?

Is there value in having a diverse Congress?

Local Example

When Gerlach first ran for Congress in 2002 the bizarrely drawn district was often said to have been crafted for Gerlach, then a state senator seeking to move up.

He's won the seat five times since, the last time with a fairly convincing win of 57 to 43 percent over Trivedi.

Local Example In 2014, Gerlach decided

not to run for reelection…leaving the door open for Manan Trivedi

BUT!

The lines were redrawn in a way that carved out Trivedi’s house and possible supporters

Ryan Costello won the district easily (57% to 43%)

http://www.cgpgrey.com/politics-in-the-animal-kingdom/

Conclusion

What is reapportionment?

What is redistricting?

What is gerrymandering?

What are you most surprised about in regards to gerrymandering?