Research by Subject: U.S. Elections: Gerrymandering

What is Gerrymandering?

Gerrymandering: How drawing jagged lines can impact an election by Christina Greer for TED-Ed (Oct. 25, 2012)

Gerrymandering Etymology

First appearing in the Boston Gazette in March 26, 1812, satirists claimed Governor Elbridge Gerry's new district looked like a salamander, later called a Gerrymander.

Finding Articles

The following suggestions will be helpful when searching databases and resources to locate or finding articles.

Suggested Subject Headings

Apportionment
Election Districts
Gerrymandering
Reapportionment

Suggested Keywords

Redistricting
Gerrymandering or Gerrymander

Redistricting Resources

National Conference of State Legislatures, Redistricting Criteria

References criteria and laws for each state.

Gerrymandering (Ballotpedia)

History, overview, and examples from 1812 to present. Includes references to important legal cases.

Census Bureau

About Congressional Districting.

Congressional Redistricting Law: Background and Recent Court Rulings

2017 report of the Congressional Research Service.

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)

Redistricting and Use of Census Data.

Brennan Center for Justice - Redistricting

The Brennan Center for Justice is a nonpartisan law and policy institute.

Princeton Gerrymandering Project

"We develop and use mathematical tests that rigorously diagnose unequal opportunity and unfair outcomes in district maps."

California Redistricting

Secretary of State's California Redistricting Information Page

In order to get an updated count of the country's population, the U.S. Constitution requires a federal census every ten years. California uses that census data to redraw the Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, and State Board of Equalization districts based on population changes.

We Draw the Lines

Welcome to the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC) website where you will find information about California’s redistricting process and how you can get involved.

California Redistricting: What to Know about the Final Maps

Key points on the new redistricting of congressional and legislative districts within California.

League of Women Voters of California Redistricting Information

Redistricting information for education and advocacy at all levels of the League.

Congressional Redistricting

About Congressional Districts - US Census

Provides overview and most recent district maps

Congressional Research Service, "Congressional Redistricting Law: Background and Recent Court Rulings"

2017 CRS study of Congressional Redistricting Law

My Congressional District by US Census

Provides democratic information and maps for each congressional district.

Washington Post, Congressional Redistricting

"Our look at where all 50 states are in the congressional redistricting process, and how finished plans are likely to affect the partisan balance of their delegations."

Dave's Redistricting Map

Dave's Redistricting is a group of volunteers who share a passion for technology and democracy. Our mission is to empower civic organizations and citizen activists to advocate for fair congressional and legislative districts, and increased transparency in the redistricting process. Provides interact maps for congressional, state senate, and state house districts. Maps depict partisan leanings and demographic data.

Documentaries at Library

Slay the Dragon
After the 2008 election, a secretive, well-funded partisan initiative poured money into state legislative races in key swing states to gain control of their redrawing electoral maps and redistricting processes. It used high-tech analytics to dramatically skew voting maps based on demographic data, serving the party in power. The result was one of the greatest electoral manipulations in American history, posing a fundamental threat to democracy and exacerbating the already polarized atmosphere in Congress and state houses across the country. Following groups of outraged citizens, the film sees them battle party operatives and an entrenched political establishment to fix a broken system.
US Government 12
The video is about Gerrymandering in the United States. It is a redrawing or drawing other district in such a way to give someone a electoral advantage.

Books

Racism, Hypocrisy, and Bad Faith by Julius Bailey
Call Number: E169.12 .B285 2020
ISBN: 9781554814985
Publication Date: 2020-02-28
The election of President Donald Trump, through his campaign of race-baiting, sexual harassment, and blatant disregard for human decency, lowered the moral bar of American public discourse. Julius Bailey's latest book discusses the current state of hypocrisy and mistrust in the American political system, especially as these affect ethnic minorities and low-income groups. In powerful and inspiring prose, Bailey writes with a voice well informed by current events, empirical data, and philosophical observation. Bailey looks at the causes and consequences of this new era and applies his passionate yet astute analysis to issues such as hate speech, gerrymandering, the use of the Confederate flag, and America's relationship with the gun. A percentage of the revenue from this book's sales will be donated to two organizations: The Movement for Black Lives and Color of Change.
Redistricting by Charles S. Bullock
Call Number: KF4905 .B85 2010
ISBN: 9781442203532
Publication Date: 2010-06-16
This book will prepare readers for the redistricting of congressional, state legislative, and local collegial bodies that will follow the 2010 Census. Almost every state legislature will devote extensive time to redrawing its own districts along with the state's congressional districts during 2011-2012. Chapters 2 through 5 cover the major factors involved in drawing the new maps. These are arranged in the order of their legal prominence beginning with the need for equal populations before moving to the obligation to avoid discriminating against minorities. Chapter 4 examines the other elements weighed by those redrawing districts: compactness, respect for political boundaries and communities of interest. Chapter 5 deals with partisan considerations and consequences of redistricting. More than any other state, Georgia has probably been the locale for more precedent-setting cases and had more difficulty securing Department of Justice approval of its districting plans. Chapter 6 uses Georgia as a case study to demonstrate the application of a number of concepts discussed in the preceding four chapters. The seventh chapter provides a preview of the post-2010 redistricting with a discussion of projections of likely congressional reapportionment. The final chapter also considers how the changes in the Voting Rights Act adopted in 2006 may affect the next round of redistricting.

U.S. Elections

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