Redistricting, Reapportionment & Gerrymandering

Congressional Elections•Congressional elections are different than presidential elections•There is no electoral college or majority needed•The candidate that receives THE MOST votes (not necessarily a majority) is the winner•This is called the Plurality System

Redistricting

•Redistricting is the redrawing of congressional districts.•Purposes: to reflect an increase/decrease in population or a shift in population

Virginia’s Congressional Districts: from 2010 Census

Where are you? Where am I?

How do you know if population increased or decreased? The Census•The constitutionally mandated process of counting all people living in the United States

•The census has been conducted every 10 years since 1790, as required by the United States Constitution

Reapportionment A new distribution of congressional seats in

the House of Representatives is based on census results

The US and Constitutions require reapportionment of national, state, and local legislative bodies following each census.

This process often requires Redistricting which occurs in the legislative branch by the majority party.

Gerrymandering•The political party controlling the state government draws a district’s boundaries to gain an advantage in elections. (this power has been historically abused)•This often results in district boundaries that have very irregular shapes

~ Elkanah Tisdale, 1812

The Original “Gerrymander” Cartoon

In 1811, the Governor of Massachusetts, Elbridge Gerry, helped to ensure the election of two Democratic senators by creating a new political district. The term and subsequent political cartoon is a combination of the salamander shape of the district along with his name. Gerrymandering issues have appeared several times in the Supreme Court. In 1964, the Supreme Court case, Wesberry v. Sanders outlawed gerrymandering and established the “one man, one vote” principle. The Court also agreed that the Voting Rights Act of 1965 said that purposeful gerrymandering of a congressional district to dilute minority strength is illegal.

Illinois' 4th Congressional District

The 4th Congressional District of Illinois connects two Hispanic neighborhoods while remaining connected by narrowly tracing Interstate 294.

Separated by over 200 miles

Play the Game!!!

1. Google ‘The Redistricting Game’2. Click “Play the Game”3. Still don’t understand redistricting and

gerrymandering? Start MISSION 1!4. Think you understand redistricting and

gerrymandering? Start MISSION 2!!5. Start with the “basic” level, read

directions, good luck!!!