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Congressional Redistricting: The Impact of Gerrymandering on Democracy

Explore the intricacies of congressional redistricting, gerrymandering techniques, and its effects on democracy. Learn about different types of gerrymandering and ways to prevent its abuse of power. Dive into real-world cases in CA, NY, TX, and Ohio. Join the conversation on shaping fair electoral boundaries. Take action with the Redistricting Game.

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Congressional Redistricting: The Impact of Gerrymandering on Democracy

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  1. Congressional Redistricting "We are in the business of rigging elections.” Former State Senator Mark McDaniel

  2. Step 1: Reapportionment • There are 435 members in the House of Representatives. • After each census, the number of representatives are distributed among the states based on population.

  3. Step 2: Redistricting • State legislatures then draw up the congressional districts for their state, • One district for each representative. • After the 2000 census, CA was apportioned 53 seats in the House of Reps. Therefore there are 53 congressional districts in CA. • MAP

  4. Principles of Redistricting • Equal Population - Each district must contain roughly the same number of people (approx. 650,000 per district) • One Person, One Vote • Contiguity - Each district should be one continuous shape. • No "land islands" are allowed. • Compactness - Generally, districts should be drawn in compact shapes. • Extremely jagged edges and skinny extensions are hallmarks of gerrymandered districts.

  5. What is Gerrymandering? • Gerrymandering: Manipulating electoral boundaries to give one group an advantage over another. • Named after Governor of MA, Elbridge Gerry • How It Happens

  6. Types of Gerrymandering • Partisan Gerrymander: When the majority party draws the district lines to maximize the power of their own party. • Sweetheart Gerrymander: When the people in charge of redistricting draw district lines to ensure that incumbents of both parties win reelection. • Racial Gerrymander: The drawing of districts to either minimize or maximize the power of minority voters

  7. Gerrymandering Techniques • Cracking - Spreading like-minded voters apart across multiple districts to dilute their voting power in each. • This denies the group representation in multiple districts. • Packing - Concentrating like-minded voters together in one district to reduce their voting power in other districts. • This gives the group representation in a single district while denying them representation across districts.

  8. Gerrymandering in CA

  9. Gerrymandering in NY

  10. Gerrymandering in TX

  11. Gerrymandering in Ohio

  12. The Effects of Gerrymandering • "Here is a telling statistic: 153 of California's congressional and legislative seats were up in the last election and not one changed parties. What kind of democracy is that?” • Governor Arnold Schwargenegger, 2005 State of the State Address • "It used to be that the idea was, once every two years voters elected their representatives, and now, instead, it's every ten years the representatives choose their constituents.” • Pamela Karlan, Professor of Public Interest Law at Stanford Law School

  13. Think About It!!! • What effect does gerrymandering have on the democratic process? • Can we really claim to be a democracy when this is allowed to happen? • How can this abuse of power be prevented? What can be done?

  14. Visit: • www.redistrictinggame.org • Play the Redistricting Game • Accomplish your mission and print out evidence

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