Redistricting+and+Gerrymandering

There are 435 representatives in the House of Representatives, and each state has a certain number of representatives based on population. //Reapportionment//- A process where seats are allotted to each state after the US census //Redistricting//- Redrawing of boundaries of congressional districts within each state
 * Congressional Districts **

A political process of redrawing congressional districts to reflect increases or deceases in seats allotted to the states, as well as population shifts within the state. //Malapportionment-// When the district lines are drawn so that one district contains a much greater population that other districts within the state
 * Redistricting **

The Redistricting Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bh4qAJDUOcc

The Redistrcting Game: http://www.redistrictinggame.org/

Gerrymandering is the redrawing of congressional districts to produce a particular electoral outcome.
 * Gerrymandering **

//Packing:// refers to the practice of concentrating as many voters in a district as possible who share similar voting tendencies.

//Cracking//: being the opposite of packing, can be used to split up pockets of opposition into multiple surrounding districts in order to reduce their ability to influence an election.

 //Hijacking//: Separating an incumbent candidate from his constituents and placing him or her in a district where he or she has no name recognition.

//Kidnapping//: Drawing two incumbent candidates into the same district so they must run against each other.

Origin

Gerrymandering is as old as the country itself. In 1812, Jeffersonian Republicans forced through the Massachusetts legislature a bill rearranging district lines to assure them an advantage in the upcoming elections. Although Governor Elbridge Gerry had only reluctantly signed the law, a Federalist editor is said to have exclaimed upon seeing the new district lines, "Salamander! Call it a Gerrymander." This cartoon-map first appeared in the Boston Gazette for March 26, 1812. Even though the term "gerrymander" originates here, it dates back even further - some say to Patrick Henry drawing Virginia's first Congressional district map so as to make it harder for James Madison to be elected to Congress.

**Notable Supreme Court Decisions** //Baker v. Carr (1962)-// Decided that federal courts have the power to review redistricting done by Congress-members. //Wesberry v. Sanders (1964)-// Officially required that states draw in districts that are proportionate to the population in that area. // Reynolds v. Sims (1964)- // Stated that each district had to have roughly the same population, and guaranteed equal representation for everyone. //Thornburg v. Gingles (1986)-// Prevented the process of "cracking" where blacks and other minorities were broken up into different districts as a way to prevent their vote from mattering as much //Shaw v. Reno (1993)-// Decided that the practice of redistricting by race must me handled with strict scrutiny under the law, according to the equal protection clause. // Easley v. Cromartie (2001)- // Stated that r edistricting for political reasons is NOT unconstitutional, but specifically redistricting according to race still was. // LULAC v. Perry (2006)- // Ended with the decision that the court would/will not step into political arguments regarding redistricting situations, after the court didn't resolve a partisan dispute over gerrymandering issues in Texas.

QUESTIONS: 1. Why is Gerrymandering considered undemocratic? 2. When does redistricting occur? 3. What is the origin of Gerrymandering? 4. What is malapportionment?

Works cited: Mr. Swanson's AP gov packet http://www.gerrymandering.senategop.net/historygerry.html @http://www.gerrymanderingmovie.com/content.php?section=issue&page=whatisit