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?
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