GERRYMANDERING EQ How do we determine legislative districts

GERRYMANDERING: EQ: How do we determine legislative districts?

Key terms • Reapportionment- every 10 years (after the census) the number of seats a state has in the House of Representatives is reallocated based on changes in POPULATION. (federal level) • Redistricting- The drawing/redrawing of House district lines. • STATE LEGISLATURES redraw district boundaries to reflect this new number of Representatives. (state level) • Example of Federalism!!!

• Reapportionme nt or redistricting? • Areas gaining representation? Areas losing? • Importance to states?

Why is reapportionment important to states? 1. Reapportionment increases or decreases the number of seats a state has in the House/Congress (not the Senate). 2. More representatives mean that a state has more influence. 3. Reapportionment increases or decreases a state’s number of electoral votes.

Reapportionment or redistricting?

When seats are drawn to the advantage to the political party or factions that controls the State Legislature it is called GERRYMANDERING

This is practiced by PACKING or concentrating the opposition’s voters in one or a few districts leaving the rest to be held by the dominant party.

Another way to accomplish this is by CRACKING or spreading the opposition as thinly as possible among several districts thus limiting their power.

Goals of Gerrymandering 1. To enhance political party strength 2. To protect incumbents/to discourage challengers. 3. To increase minority representation/to decrease minority representation. 4. To punish foes/to reward friends. EFFECT OF THIS: PARTY POLARIZATION!!!

Gerrymandering characteristics 1. Must be equal population (Westbury v. Sanders 1964 - one man, one vote) 2. Must be contiguous (Reynolds v. Sims 1964) 3. Must be “compact” (Reynolds v. Sims 1964)

Baker v. Carr 1962 • Charles W. Baker and other Tennessee citizens alleged that a 1901 law designed to apportion the seats for the state's General Assembly was virtually ignored. Baker's suit detailed how Tennessee's reapportionment efforts ignored significant economic growth and population shifts within the state. • Outcome is that courts can decide if the districts are legal. • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Jpp. OSyn. B BPs

In the case of Wesberry v Sanders (1964) That each district must have equal numbers One man - One vote

Shaw v. Reno (1993) • Gerrymandering based on race is This obviously done to give African Americans another illegal. vote in Congress. NOT LEGAL.

GERRYMANDERING D R R R R D D

GERRYMANDERING D R R R R D D

Democrats win!

GERRYMANDERING D R R R R D D

GERRYMANDERING D R R R R D PACKING D R D D

Gerrymandering review • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Yc. UDBg. Yo d. IE

Single Member Districts • The United States is divided into 435 congressional districts • Each district, no matter how diverse, sends 1 representative to Congress • Below are four districts. Which district would have the highest voter turnout? Lowest? Why? 1 2 3 4

Single Member Districts • Single member districts create a two party system Which party will yellow star and green triangle supporters vote 2 for? Why? 1

DISTRICT 10

http: //www. nbcnews. com/id/13592999/ns/politics/t/justices-revisepart-texas-redistricting/#. Vt. UTUint. WKo

REVIEW • Reapportionment v. redistricting • Who draws the lines? How often? • How does gerrymandering represent federalism? • Ultimate effect of gerrymandering?