gerrymandering. today’s objective after today’s lesson, students will be able to… define...
TRANSCRIPT
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%)
Conclusion
What is reapportionment?
What is redistricting?
What is gerrymandering?
What are you most surprised about in regards to gerrymandering?