Chapter 9B-1: Who Represents Who: Redistricting States

Flashcards that cover key concepts and terms related to redistricting and representation in state and local government.

Redistricting

The process of drawing new boundaries for electoral and political districts.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one political party over another.

One person, one vote

The principle that each person's vote should carry the same weight in elections.

Apportionment

The process of distributing legislative seats based on population.

Protected groups

Minority groups that must receive special attention to ensure fair treatment in elections as defined by the Voting Rights Act.

Packing and Cracking

Tactics used in gerrymandering; packing concentrates voters of one type into a single district, while cracking spreads them across several districts to dilute their voting power.

Legally fair apportionment criteria

Requirements that must be met for the drawing of political district boundaries, including equality of population and contiguity.

Contiguity

A requirement that all parts of a district must be connected to each other.

Deviation limits

The allowed variation from equal population in districts, typically less than 1% for congressional districts.

Political factors in redistricting

Considerations such as party identification, voting likelihood, and registration rates that influence how district lines are drawn.