Does Redistricting Make A Difference

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Does Redistricting Make a Difference?

Mark E. Rush
Does Redistricting Make a Difference Book PDF

Author : Mark E. Rush
Publisher : Lexington Books
Page : 194 pages
File Size : 47,8 Mb
Release : 2000
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 0739101927

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Does Redistricting Make a Difference? by Mark E. Rush Pdf

In 1812 the Jeffersonian-dominated Massachusetts legislature, with the approval of Governor Elbridge Gerry, split Essex County in an effort to dilute the strength of the Federalists. Noting the resemblance of the new, oddly shaped district to a well-known amphibian, a local newspaper dubbed the creation a "gerrymander." Less well known about this oft-recounted episode of American history, writes political scientist Mark Rush, is its outcome: in the ensuing election, the Federalists won the district anyway. Today, politically divisive redistricting--gerrymandering to some--still causes bitter reapportionment disputes, renewed threats of class action lawsuits, and legislative wrangling. In Does Redistricting Make a Difference? Rush offers a skeptical inquiry into this controversy and a critical assessment of the assumptions underlying current analyses of the redistricting process. He focuses on long-term voting results in redrawn districts and concludes that redistricting--at least given present criteria and guidelines--has little impact. By showing how difficult it is to perpetrate a successful partisan gerrymander, Rush challenges the notion that an electorate can be organized into Democratic and Republican "groups." He further questions the validity of current political research--and highly paid political consulting--undertaken on the assumption that such organization is feasible. Certain to provoke discussion and debate, Does Redistricting make a Difference? is a timely look at a topic as controversial today as it was in the days of Elbridge Gerry.

The Fight to Vote

Michael Waldman
The Fight to Vote Book PDF

Author : Michael Waldman
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
Page : 448 pages
File Size : 54,7 Mb
Release : 2022-01-18
Category : History
ISBN : 9781982198930

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The Fight to Vote by Michael Waldman Pdf

On cover, the word "right" has an x drawn over the letter "r" with the letter "f" above it.

The Realities of Redistricting

Jonathan Winburn
The Realities of Redistricting Book PDF

Author : Jonathan Winburn
Publisher : Lexington Books
Page : 268 pages
File Size : 41,7 Mb
Release : 2008
Category : Law
ISBN : 0739121855

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The Realities of Redistricting by Jonathan Winburn Pdf

This book tests the effectiveness of political control and neutral rules on limiting partisan gerrymandering in state legislative redistricting. Specifically, the book examines the 2000 redistricting process in eight states_Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, and Washington.

The Political Battle over Congressional Redistricting

William J. Miller,Jeremy D. Walling
The Political Battle over Congressional Redistricting Book PDF

Author : William J. Miller,Jeremy D. Walling
Publisher : Lexington Books
Page : 462 pages
File Size : 50,7 Mb
Release : 2013-06-07
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780739169841

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The Political Battle over Congressional Redistricting by William J. Miller,Jeremy D. Walling Pdf

John Engler, former Governor of Michigan, once claimed that redistricting is one of the purest actions a legislative body can take. Academicians and political leaders alike, however, have regularly debated the ideal way by to redistrict national and state legislatures. Rather than being the pure process that Governor Engler envisioned, redistricting has led to repeated court battles waged on such traditional democratic values as one person, one vote, and minority rights. Instead of being an opportunity to help ensure maximum representation for the citizens, the process has become a cat and mouse game in many states with citizen representation seemingly the farthest idea from anyone’s mind. From a purely political perspective, those in power in the state legislature at the time of redistricting largely act like they have unilateral authority to do as they please. In this volume, contributors discuss why such an assumption is concerning in the modern political environment.

Drawing the Lines

Nicholas R. Seabrook
Drawing the Lines Book PDF

Author : Nicholas R. Seabrook
Publisher : Cornell University Press
Page : 177 pages
File Size : 43,9 Mb
Release : 2017-02-07
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781501707780

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Drawing the Lines by Nicholas R. Seabrook Pdf

Radical redistricting plans, such as that pushed through by Texas governor Rick Perry in 2003, are frequently used for partisan purposes. Perry's plan sent twenty-one Republicans (and only eleven Democrats) to Congress in the 2004 elections. Such heavy-handed tactics strike many as contrary to basic democratic principles. In Drawing the Lines, Nicholas R. Seabrook uses a combination of political science methods and legal studies insights to investigate the effects of redistricting on U.S. House elections. He concludes that partisan gerrymandering poses far less of a threat to democratic accountability than conventional wisdom would suggest.Building on a large data set of the demographics of redrawn districts and subsequent congressional elections, Seabrook looks less at the who and how of gerrymandering and considers more closely the practical effects of partisan redistricting plans. He finds that the redrawing of districts often results in no detrimental effect for district-level competition. Short-term benefits in terms of capturing seats are sometimes achieved but long-term results are uncertain. By focusing on the end results rather than on the motivations of political actors, Seabrook seeks to recast the political debate about the importance of partisanship. He supports institutionalizing metrics for competitiveness that would prove more threatening to all incumbents no matter their party affiliation.

Ratf**ked

David Daley
Ratf ked Book PDF

Author : David Daley
Publisher : National Geographic Books
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 43,8 Mb
Release : 2017-07-04
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781631493218

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Ratf**ked by David Daley Pdf

David Daley’s “extraordinarily timely” (New York Times Book Review) account uncovers the fundamental rigging of our House of Representatives and state legislatures nationwide. Lauded as a “compelling” (The New Yorker) and “eye-opening tour of a process that many Americans never see” (Washington Post), David Daley’s Ratf**ked documents the effort of Republican legislators and political operatives to hack American democracy through an audacious redistricting plan called REDMAP. Since the revolutionary election of Barack Obama, a group of GOP strategists has devised a way to flood state races with a gold rush of dark money, made possible by Citizens United, in order to completely reshape Congress—and our democracy itself. “Sobering and convincing” (New York Review of Books), Ratf**ked shows how this program has radically altered America’s electoral map and created a firewall in the House, insulating the Republican party and its wealthy donors from popular democracy. While exhausted voters recover from a grueling presidential election, a new Afterword from the author explores the latest intense efforts by both parties, who are already preparing for the next redistricting cycle in 2020.

Gerrymandering

Stephen K. Medvic
Gerrymandering Book PDF

Author : Stephen K. Medvic
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Page : 214 pages
File Size : 45,8 Mb
Release : 2021-05-04
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781509536887

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Gerrymandering by Stephen K. Medvic Pdf

For nearly as long as there have been electoral districts in America, politicians have gerrymandered those districts. Though the practice has changed over time, the public reaction to it has remained the same: gerrymandering is reviled. There is, of course, good reason for that sentiment. Gerrymandering is intended to maximize the number of legislative seats for one party. As such, it is an attempt to gain what appears to be an unfair advantage in elections. Nevertheless, gerrymandering is not well understood by most people and this lack of understanding leads to a false sense that there are easy solutions to this complex problem. Gerrymandering: The Politics of Redistricting in the United States unpacks the complicated process of gerrymandering, reflecting upon the normative issues to which it gives rise. Tracing the history of partisan gerrymandering from its nineteenth-century roots to the present day, the book explains its legal status and implementation, its consequences, and possible options for reform. The result is a balanced analysis of gerrymandering that acknowledges its troubling aspects while recognizing that, as long as district boundaries have to be drawn, there is no perfect way to do so.

Reapportionment and Redistricting in the West

Gary F. Moncrief
Reapportionment and Redistricting in the West Book PDF

Author : Gary F. Moncrief
Publisher : Lexington Books
Page : 295 pages
File Size : 52,8 Mb
Release : 2011-12-22
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780739167625

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Reapportionment and Redistricting in the West by Gary F. Moncrief Pdf

In Reapportionment and Redistricting in the West, Gary F. Moncrief brings together some of the best-known scholars in American state and electoral politics to explore the unique processes and problems of redistricting in the western United States. These political scientists examine the specific challenges facing western states in ensuring fair and balanced political representation. Western states tend to be geographically large and experiencing rapid population growth and the chapters in this enlightening volume discuss the changing demographics in western states, paying special attention to the rise in the Latino population and the effect this has had on reapportionment and redistricting. They describe the ways in which some of these states achieve redistricting through independent redistricting commissions—a process rarely found in other regions—and they provide policy prescriptions for the future.

The Realities of Redistricting

Jonathan Winburn
The Realities of Redistricting Book PDF

Author : Jonathan Winburn
Publisher : Lexington Books
Page : 259 pages
File Size : 42,9 Mb
Release : 2008-03-07
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780739141496

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The Realities of Redistricting by Jonathan Winburn Pdf

Allowing legislators to pick the voters that make up their districts is a fundamental conflict of interest and central concern for the popular sovereignty of American elections. In The Realities of Redistricting, Jonathan Winburn examines the extent of this potential problem by focusing on both the incentives and the constraints facing state legislators during the redistricting process. Most research on redistricting tends to examine only the outcomes produced in terms of partisan gains or losses; however, we know much less about what constrains political mapmakers during the process. We know even less about whether constraints built into the process are enough to limit the partisan manipulation of both district boundaries and electoral outcomes. From the beginning stages of redistricting to the resulting outcomes on election day, this book analyzes the constraints and incentives that state legislators face. By examining the entire process, this book investigates who holds the power in the process and improves our understanding of the conditions under which redrawing district boundaries have a significant influence on partisan politics throughout the country. Specifically, reformers, who generally argue for commissions, may find that focusing on the rules rather than the actors is a better path to improving the process. The Realities of Redistricting is an interesting and informative read for anyone concerned with one of the most contentious processes in the American system.

Voice, Trust, and Memory

Melissa S. Williams
Voice Trust and Memory Book PDF

Author : Melissa S. Williams
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 344 pages
File Size : 49,6 Mb
Release : 2021-05-11
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781400822782

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Voice, Trust, and Memory by Melissa S. Williams Pdf

Does fair political representation for historically disadvantaged groups require their presence in legislative bodies? The intuition that women are best represented by women, and African-Americans by other African-Americans, has deep historical roots. Yet the conception of fair representation that prevails in American political culture and jurisprudence--what Melissa Williams calls "liberal representation"--concludes that the social identity of legislative representatives does not bear on their quality as representatives. Liberal representation's slogan, "one person, one vote," concludes that the outcome of the electoral and legislative process is fair, whatever it happens to be, so long as no voter is systematically excluded. Challenging this notion, Williams maintains that fair representation is powerfully affected by the identity of legislators and whether some of them are actually members of the historically marginalized groups that are most in need of protection in our society. Williams argues first that the distinctive voice of these groups should be audible within the legislative process. Second, she holds that the self-representation of these groups is necessary to sustain their trust in democratic institutions. The memory of state-sponsored discrimination against these groups, together with ongoing patterns of inequality along group lines, provides both a reason to recognize group claims and a way of distinguishing stronger from weaker claims. The book closes by proposing institutions that can secure fair representation for marginalized groups without compromising principles of democratic freedom and equality.

Partisan Gerrymandering and the Construction of American Democracy

Erik J. Engstrom
Partisan Gerrymandering and the Construction of American Democracy Book PDF

Author : Erik J. Engstrom
Publisher : University of Michigan Press
Page : 237 pages
File Size : 45,5 Mb
Release : 2013-09-30
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780472119011

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Partisan Gerrymandering and the Construction of American Democracy by Erik J. Engstrom Pdf

Since the nation’s founding, the strategic manipulation of congressional districts has influenced American politics and public policy

Understanding Place

Diana Stuart Sinton,Jennifer J. Lund
Understanding Place Book PDF

Author : Diana Stuart Sinton,Jennifer J. Lund
Publisher : ESRI, Inc.
Page : 250 pages
File Size : 42,5 Mb
Release : 2007
Category : Geographic information systems
ISBN : 9781589481497

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Understanding Place by Diana Stuart Sinton,Jennifer J. Lund Pdf

This collection of case studies describes how instructors have used GIS within the traditions of a classical undergraduate education to help students analyze, manage, and visualize information in order to create a realistic learning environment in which students practice inquiry in their fields.

The Long Red Thread

Kyle Kondik
The Long Red Thread Book PDF

Author : Kyle Kondik
Publisher : Ohio University Press
Page : 241 pages
File Size : 46,5 Mb
Release : 2021-10-26
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780821447345

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The Long Red Thread by Kyle Kondik Pdf

An incisive study that shows how Republicans transformed the US House of Representatives into a consistent GOP stronghold—with or without a majority. Long-term Democratic dominance in the US House of Representatives gave way to a Republican electoral advantage and frequently held majority following the GOP takeover in 1994. Republicans haven’t always held the majority in recent decades, but nationalization, partisan realignment, and the gerrymandering of House seats have contributed to a political climate in which they've had an edge more often than not for nearly thirty years. The Long Red Thread examines each House election cycle from 1964 to 2020, surveying academic and journalistic literature to identify key trends and takeaways from more than a half-century of US House election results in order to predict what Americans can expect to see in the future.

The Parties in Court

Robert C. Wigton
The Parties in Court Book PDF

Author : Robert C. Wigton
Publisher : Lexington Books
Page : 393 pages
File Size : 51,7 Mb
Release : 2013-12-11
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780739189689

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The Parties in Court by Robert C. Wigton Pdf

American political parties have long existed in a gray area of constitutional law because of their uncertain status. Parties in this country are neither fully public nor fully private entities. This constitutional ambiguity has meant that political parties are considered private organizations for some purposes and public ones for others. This “public-private entity” problem has arisen in many different legal contexts over the years. However, given their case-by-case method of judicial review, courts have typically dealt with only very discrete parts of this larger problem. This work is an endeavor to describe and analyze the constitutional status of political parties in this country by synthesizing the best judicial and scholarly thinking on the subject. In the final chapter, I draw on these ideas to propose my own scheme for how political parties might be best accommodated in a democracy.

Election Law in the American Political System

James A. Gardner,Guy-Uriel Charles
Election Law in the American Political System Book PDF

Author : James A. Gardner,Guy-Uriel Charles
Publisher : Aspen Publishing
Page : 1202 pages
File Size : 48,9 Mb
Release : 2017-09-15
Category : Law
ISBN : 9781454893950

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Election Law in the American Political System by James A. Gardner,Guy-Uriel Charles Pdf

The second edition of Election Law in the American Political System offers an easy to teach, student-friendly, intellectually rich casebook with comprehensive coverage of the legal rules and doctrines that shape democratic participation in the 21st century American political system. The second edition of this casebook is updated throughout with new material including identity theory of voting behavior, alternative electoral systems, emerging metrics for evaluating the quality of election administration, and developments concerning the advent of “fake news” in election campaigns. Election Law in the American Political System also includes expanded coverage of developments regarding independent districting commissions, judicial elections, legal standards to adjudicate partisan gerrymandering, and the concept of “wisdom of the multitude.” With redesigned coverage and a thoughtful selection and careful editing of cases, the second edition contextualizes legal doctrine by providing insightful background readings and using expository material to introduce topics. New to the Second Edition: New coverage: Identity theory of voting behavior. Alternative electoral systems, including limited and cumulative voting and the single transferable vote. Evolution of judicial review of democratic processes. Developments concerning the advent of “fake news” in election campaigns. The emerging law of “ballot selfies.” Emerging metrics for evaluating the quality of election administration. Expanded coverage of: Concept of “wisdom of the multitude” Legal standards to adjudicate partisan gerrymandering. Developments regarding independent districting commissions, including an extended excerpt from Arizona State Legislature Judicial elections.