gerrymandering

Question 1

what is gerrymandering

Answer 1

“Manipulating electoral district boundaries for
partisan advantage”

Question 2

who decides on redistricting and why is it undemocratic

Answer 2

in 37 states the state legislature decides. It is undemocratic as It means the party with a majority in the state legislature can draw the boundaries in their own party’s advantage,
and give them an unfair advantage next election

Question 3

how does gerrymandering work

Answer 3

It typically involves concentrating the typical voters of the other party in a few districts, giving your own party a majority in all other districts

Question 4

why does gerrymandering matter

Answer 4

Unfair elections: Majority party within state gains advantage
More safe seats: Boundaries are drawn to create more safe seats 🡪 less participation; more polarisation
Underrepresentation of minority groups: Because often social background indicators of the population are used (e.g. race) minorities become underrepresented
Historically in the South used to disenfranchise African Americans

Question 5

SC decisions on gerrymandering - racial grounds

Answer 5

Miller v. Johnson 1985 – gerrymandering on racial grounds is unconstitutional
At the time, 27% of the population of Georgia was African American, but they had a majority in only 1 of its 10 districts.

Question 6

SC decision on gerrymandering on partisan grounds

Answer 6

Rucho v. Common Cause 2019 – the Supreme Court decided that gerrymandering on partisan grounds is not unconstitutional. 5-4