Books On Gerrymandering

Unpacking the Puzzle: A Deep Dive into Books on Gerrymandering

Introduction:

Gerrymandering. The word itself sounds vaguely sinister, conjuring images of backroom deals and manipulated maps. But behind the political jargon lies a complex issue with profound consequences for democracy. This post serves as your comprehensive guide to understanding gerrymandering, and more importantly, the best books to illuminate this critical topic. We'll explore several key texts, providing detailed summaries and highlighting what makes each a valuable resource for anyone wanting to grasp the intricacies of this controversial practice. Prepare to delve into a world of partisan politics, legal battles, and the fight for fair representation.


Understanding the Beast: What is Gerrymandering?

Before we dive into the books, let's establish a clear understanding of gerrymandering. Simply put, it's the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a particular party or group. This isn't just about drawing lines on a map; it's a strategic process that can effectively disenfranchise voters and distort the will of the people. There are two primary types:

Cracking: This involves splitting up a geographically concentrated voting bloc (e.g., a heavily Democratic urban area) across multiple districts, diluting its voting power in each.
Packing: This strategy concentrates the opposing party's voters into a small number of districts, maximizing the number of seats the dominant party can win in other districts.

The consequences are significant: reduced competitiveness of elections, diminished voter turnout, and a skewed representation in government that doesn't accurately reflect the electorate's preferences.


Essential Reads: Books that Decipher Gerrymandering

Now, let's explore some crucial books that provide different perspectives and levels of detail on gerrymandering:


1. Gerrymandering in the United States: A Very Short Introduction by Bernard Grofman

This book offers a concise yet comprehensive overview of the history, mechanics, and legal battles surrounding gerrymandering in the United States. Grofman, a leading expert in the field, provides a clear and accessible explanation of complex concepts, making it ideal for readers with limited prior knowledge.

Introduction: Briefly defines gerrymandering and its historical context.
Main Chapters: Explores different types of gerrymandering, its impact on elections, legal challenges, and potential reforms. Examines both partisan and racial gerrymandering.
Conclusion: Summarizes the key challenges and potential solutions to address the problem of gerrymandering.


2. The Politics of Redistricting by Bernard Grofman and Arend Lijphart (Editors)

A more academic but equally important work, this edited volume offers a deeper dive into the intricacies of redistricting processes, exploring various theoretical frameworks and empirical studies. It's an excellent resource for those seeking a more in-depth understanding of the political science behind gerrymandering.

Introduction: Sets the stage for understanding redistricting as a political process.
Main Chapters: Features contributions from leading scholars in political science, covering topics like the history of redistricting, the impact of different redistricting methods, and the role of courts in addressing gerrymandering.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the key findings and offers insights into future directions in redistricting research.


3. Unequal Representation: The Effects of Gerrymandering on Congress by Eric McGhee and Justin Levitt

This book provides strong evidence demonstrating the tangible consequences of gerrymandering on the composition of Congress and the policy-making process. Using empirical data and compelling case studies, the authors show how gerrymandering contributes to political polarization and undermines representative government.

Introduction: Establishes the importance of fair representation and introduces the concept of gerrymandering's impact.
Main Chapters: Presents statistical evidence and case studies illustrating how gerrymandering shapes electoral outcomes and legislative priorities. Analyzes specific examples of gerrymandered districts.
Conclusion: Advocates for reform and proposes solutions to mitigate the negative effects of gerrymandering.


4. Redistricting and Representation: Why Gerrymandering Matters by Michael McDonald

This book provides a balanced and accessible explanation of gerrymandering, covering its historical context, its various techniques, and the ongoing legal battles aimed at reforming this practice. It's a great choice for those looking for a well-rounded and engaging introduction to the topic.


Detailed Explanation of Each Book Point

Let's delve deeper into the key aspects of each book mentioned above. Note that these sections are illustrative, drawing upon general knowledge of the books and their authors’ expertise rather than direct quotes from the texts themselves.


1. Gerrymandering in the United States: A Very Short Introduction

The introduction would likely start by defining gerrymandering, tracing its origins back to Elbridge Gerry, and briefly describing the different forms it takes. Subsequent chapters would detail the mechanics of cracking and packing, examining various techniques used to manipulate district boundaries. It would analyze the legal challenges to gerrymandering, including Supreme Court cases such as Rucho v. Common Cause, discussing the complexities of establishing legally actionable gerrymandering. Finally, it would likely suggest solutions, potentially discussing independent redistricting commissions and algorithmic approaches to fairer districting.


2. The Politics of Redistricting

This book, being an edited collection, would have diverse perspectives. Some chapters might focus on the historical evolution of redistricting processes, demonstrating how gerrymandering techniques have changed over time. Other chapters might explore the impact of different redistricting criteria (e.g., compactness, contiguity) on electoral outcomes. The use of statistical modeling and analysis of specific cases would likely feature prominently, providing strong empirical evidence of gerrymandering's effects. The conclusion would potentially offer a comparison of various redistricting models and their effectiveness in promoting fair representation.


3. Unequal Representation: The Effects of Gerrymandering on Congress

This book strongly emphasizes empirical evidence. The introduction would probably establish the importance of fair representation in a democracy and introduce the authors' argument about gerrymandering's negative impact. Chapters would likely contain detailed statistical analyses showing correlations between gerrymandering and reduced competitiveness of elections, decreased voter turnout, and skewed legislative outcomes. Specific examples of gerrymandered districts would be used to illustrate the real-world consequences. The conclusion would summarize their findings, emphasizing the need for reform and possibly suggesting specific policy interventions.


4. Redistricting and Representation: Why Gerrymandering Matters

This work would offer a balanced account, exploring various perspectives on the issue. The introduction would lay out a clear definition of gerrymandering and its impact on the democratic process. Chapters would likely trace the historical development of gerrymandering, outlining different techniques and explaining how they've been employed over time. It would also cover legal battles surrounding gerrymandering, summarizing key Supreme Court cases and their implications. The concluding chapter would summarize the arguments, reiterate the importance of fair representation, and maybe explore potential remedies or reforms.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the difference between cracking and packing in gerrymandering? Cracking splits up a concentrated voting bloc across multiple districts, while packing concentrates the opposing party's voters into fewer districts.

2. Is gerrymandering legal? The legality of gerrymandering is complex and subject to ongoing legal challenges. While extreme partisan gerrymandering has faced scrutiny, establishing a legal standard for proving it remains difficult.

3. How does gerrymandering affect voter turnout? Gerrymandering can depress voter turnout by making elections less competitive, leading to a sense of futility among voters whose party is consistently outmatched.

4. What are some solutions to gerrymandering? Independent redistricting commissions, algorithmic approaches to districting, and court challenges are some proposed solutions.

5. What role do courts play in addressing gerrymandering? Courts have played a crucial role in addressing gerrymandering, although setting clear legal standards has proved challenging.

6. How does gerrymandering impact political polarization? Gerrymandering can exacerbate political polarization by creating "safe" seats for incumbents, reducing the need for compromise and bipartisanship.

7. Can gerrymandering be used for racial purposes? Yes, gerrymandering has historically been used to dilute the voting power of minority groups, a practice deemed unconstitutional under the Voting Rights Act.

8. What is the impact of gerrymandering on minority representation? Gerrymandering can significantly reduce minority representation in government, undermining their political voice and influence.

9. Are there any successful examples of independent redistricting commissions? Several states have implemented independent redistricting commissions with varying degrees of success in reducing partisan gerrymandering.


Related Articles:

1. The Supreme Court and Gerrymandering: A History of Legal Battles: Explores the landmark Supreme Court cases that have shaped the legal landscape of gerrymandering.

2. Independent Redistricting Commissions: A Path to Fairer Elections?: Examines the effectiveness and challenges of independent commissions in preventing partisan gerrymandering.

3. Algorithmic Approaches to Redistricting: Can Technology Solve the Gerrymandering Problem?: Discusses the use of algorithms and computer science in developing fair and unbiased districting plans.

4. The Impact of Gerrymandering on Voter Turnout and Political Engagement: Analyzes the empirical evidence linking gerrymandering to lower voter turnout and reduced political participation.

5. Gerrymandering and Political Polarization: A Vicious Cycle?: Explores the relationship between gerrymandering and the growing political polarization in the United States.

6. Racial Gerrymandering and the Voting Rights Act: A Continuing Struggle: Examines the history and ongoing challenges of preventing racial gerrymandering.

7. The Role of Citizen Participation in Redistricting Reform: Discusses the importance of public engagement and advocacy in shaping redistricting processes.

8. Comparative Gerrymandering: Lessons from Around the World: Examines how other countries deal with gerrymandering and the effectiveness of various reform efforts.

9. The Future of Gerrymandering: Challenges and Opportunities for Reform: Discusses the ongoing challenges and potential opportunities for future redistricting reform efforts.


  books on gerrymandering: One Person, One Vote Nick Seabrook, 2022-06-14 A redistricting crisis is now upon us. This surprising, compelling book tells the history of how we got to this moment—from the Founding Fathers to today’s high-tech manipulation of election districts—and shows us as well how to protect our most sacred, hard-fought principle of one person, one vote. Here is THE book on gerrymandering for citizens, politicians, journalists, activists, and voters. “Seabrook’s lucid account of the origins and evolution of gerrymandering—the deliberate and partisan doctoring of district borders for electoral advantage—makes a potentially dry, wonky subject accessible and engaging for a broad audience.” —The New York Times Gerrymandering is the manipulation of election districts for partisan and political gain. Instead of voters picking the politicians they want, politicians pick the voters they need to get the election results they’re after. Surprisingly, gerrymandering has been around since before our nation’s founding. And with technology, those drawing the redistricting lines have, now more than ever, been able to microtarget their electoral manipulations with unprecedented levels of precision. Nick Seabrook, an authority on constitutional and election law and an expert on gerrymandering (pronounced with a hard G!), has written an illuminating, urgently needed book on how our elections have been rigged through redistricting, beginning with the Founding Fathers, Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, and Reconstruction, and extending to the twentieth century’s gerrymandering battles at the Supreme Court and today’s high-tech manipulations of election districts. Seabrook writes of Patrick Henry, who used redistricting to settle an old score with political foe and fellow Founding Father James Madison (almost preventing the Bill of Rights from happening). He writes of Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry, and corrects the mistaken notion of the derivation of the term “gerrymander.” He writes of Abraham Lincoln and how his desire to preserve the Union led him to manipulate the admission of new states in order to maintain his majority in the Senate. And we come to understand the place of the Supreme Court in its fierce battles regarding gerrymandering throughout the twentieth century. First was Felix Frankfurter, who fought for decades to prevent the judiciary from involving itself in disputes concerning the drawing of districts. Then came the Warren Court and its series of civil rights cases culminating in the landmark decision (Reynolds v. Sims), written by Chief Justice Earl Warren, which says that state legislatures, unlike the United States Congress, must have representation in both houses based on districts containing equal populations—with redistricting as needed following each census. The result has been ever-increasing, hard-fought wrangling between the two political parties after each census. Seabrook explores the rise of the most partisan gerrymanders in American history, put into place by the Republican Party after the 2010 census, and how the battle has shifted to the states via REDMAP—the GOP’s successful strategy of the last decade to control state governments and rig the results of state legislative and congressional elections.
  books on gerrymandering: Gerrymandering the States Alex Keena, Michael Latner, Anthony J. McGann McGann, Charles Anthony Smith, 2021-07-22 State legislatures are tasked with drawing state and federal districts and administering election law, among many other responsibilities. Yet state legislatures are themselves gerrymandered. This book examines how, why, and with what consequences, drawing on an original dataset of ninety-five state legislative maps from before and after 2011 redistricting. Identifying the institutional, political, and geographic determinants of gerrymandering, the authors find that Republican gerrymandering increased dramatically after the 2011 redistricting and bias was most extreme in states with racial segregation where Republicans drew the maps. This bias has had long-term consequences. For instance, states with the most extreme Republican gerrymandering were more likely to pass laws that restricted voting rights and undermined public health, and they were less likely to respond to COVID-19. The authors examine the implications for American democracy and for the balance of power between federal and state government; they also offer empirically grounded recommendations for reform.
  books on gerrymandering: Partisan Gerrymandering and the Construction of American Democracy Erik J. Engstrom, 2013-09-30 Since the nation’s founding, the strategic manipulation of congressional districts has influenced American politics and public policy
  books on gerrymandering: Redistricting Charles S. Bullock, 2021-03-10 A 2022 Choice Reviews Outstanding Academic Title This authoritative overview of election redistricting at the congressional, state legislative, and local level provides offers an overview of redistricting for students and practitioners. The updated second edition pays special attention to the significant redistricting controversies of the last decade, from the Supreme Court to state courts.
  books on gerrymandering: The Realities of Redistricting Jonathan Winburn, 2008 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.
  books on gerrymandering: Gerrymandering in America Anthony J. McGann, Charles Anthony Smith, Michael Latner, Alex Keena, 2016-04-04 This book considers the political and constitutional consequences of Vieth v. Jubelirer (2004), where the Supreme Court held that partisan gerrymandering challenges could no longer be adjudicated by the courts. Through a rigorous scientific analysis of US House district maps, the authors argue that partisan bias increased dramatically in the 2010 redistricting round after the Vieth decision, both at the national and state level. From a constitutional perspective, unrestrained partisan gerrymandering poses a critical threat to a central pillar of American democracy, popular sovereignty. State legislatures now effectively determine the political composition of the US House. The book answers the Court's challenge to find a new standard for gerrymandering that is both constitutionally grounded and legally manageable. It argues that the scientifically rigorous partisan symmetry measure is an appropriate legal standard for partisan gerrymandering, as it logically implies the constitutional right to individual equality and can be practically applied.
  books on gerrymandering: Redistricting and Representation Thomas Brunell, 2010-04-02 Pundits have observed that if so many incumbents are returned to Congress to each election by such wide margins, perhaps we should look for ways to increase competitiveness – a centerpiece to the American way of life – through redistricting. Do competitive elections increase voter satisfaction? How does voting for a losing candidate affect voters’ attitudes toward government? The not-so-surprising conclusion is that losing voters are less satisfied with Congress and their Representative, but the implications for the way in which we draw congressional and state legislative districts are less straightforward. Redistricting and Representation argues that competition in general elections is not the sine qua non of healthy democracy, and that it in fact contributes to the low levels of approval of Congress and its members. Brunell makes the case for a radical departure from traditional approaches to redistricting – arguing that we need to pack districts with as many like-minded partisans as possible, maximizing the number of winning voters, not losers.
  books on gerrymandering: Race, Redistricting, and Representation David T. Canon, 1999-10 List of Tables and FiguresPrefaceIntroduction: Race, Redistricting, and Representation in the U.S. House of RepresentativesChapter One: Black Interests, Difference, Commonality, and RepresentationChapter Two: A Legal Primer on Race and RedistrictingChapter Three: The Supply-Side Theory of Racial Redistricting, with Matthew M. Schousen and Patrick J. SellersChapter Four: Race and Representation in the U.S. House of RepresentativesChapter Five: Links to the ConstituencyChapter Six: Black Majority Districts: Failed Experiment or Catalyst for a Politics of Commonality?Appendix A. Data SourcesAppendix B. Procedures for Coding the Newspaper StoriesNotesReferencesIndex Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.
  books on gerrymandering: Political Gerrymandering and the Courts Bernard Grofman, 1990-05 This volume is motivated by three concerns. First is the belief that the issue of political gerrymander will play a significant (although far from dominant) role in redistricting litigation in the 1990s and thereafter. In the 1980s, the legislative and/or congressional redistricting plans of all but a handful of states were subject to lawsuits (Grofman, 1985a). Many of these lawsuits involved the issue of racial vote dilution (Grofman, Migalski, and Noviello, 1985). In the 1980s hundreds of local jurisdictions that used at-large or multimember district elections had their electoral system chal.
  books on gerrymandering: Resolving Gerrymandering Robert Schafer, 2021 Introduction -- Congressional Districts -- Political question -- One person, one vote -- State Legislative Districts -- Gerrymandering -- Manageable standard for resolving gerrymandering -- Conclusion.
  books on gerrymandering: Gerrymanders Brent Tarter, 2019 Many are aware that gerrymandering exists and suspect it plays a role in our elections, but its history goes far deeper, and its impacts are far greater, than most realize. In his latest book, Brent Tarter focuses on Virginia's long history of gerrymandering to uncover its immense influence on the state's politics and to provide perspective on how the practice impacts politics nationally. Offering the first in-depth historical study of gerrymanders in Virginia, Tarter exposes practices going back to nineteenth century and colonial times and explains how they protected land owners' and slave owners' interests. The consequences of redistricting and reapportionment in modern Virginia--in effect giving a partisan minority the upper hand in all public policy decisions--become much clearer in light of this history. Where the discussion of gerrymandering has typically emphasized political parties' control of Congress, Tarter focuses on the state legislatures that determine congressional district lines and, in most states, even those of their own districts. On the eve of the 2021 session of the General Assembly, which will redraw district lines for Virginia's state Senate and House of Delegates, as well as for the U.S. House of Representatives, Tarter's book provides an eye-opening investigation of gerrymandering and its pervasive effect on our local, state, and national politics and government.
  books on gerrymandering: Why Cities Lose Jonathan A. Rodden, 2019-06-04 A prizewinning political scientist traces the origins of urban-rural political conflict and shows how geography shapes elections in America and beyond Why is it so much easier for the Democratic Party to win the national popular vote than to build and maintain a majority in Congress? Why can Democrats sweep statewide offices in places like Pennsylvania and Michigan yet fail to take control of the same states' legislatures? Many place exclusive blame on partisan gerrymandering and voter suppression. But as political scientist Jonathan A. Rodden demonstrates in Why Cities Lose, the left's electoral challenges have deeper roots in economic and political geography. In the late nineteenth century, support for the left began to cluster in cities among the industrial working class. Today, left-wing parties have become coalitions of diverse urban interest groups, from racial minorities to the creative class. These parties win big in urban districts but struggle to capture the suburban and rural seats necessary for legislative majorities. A bold new interpretation of today's urban-rural political conflict, Why Cities Lose also points to electoral reforms that could address the left's under-representation while reducing urban-rural polarization.
  books on gerrymandering: One Person, No Vote Carol Anderson, 2018-09-11 As featured in the documentary All In: The Fight for Democracy Finalist for the PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction Longlisted for the National Book Award in Nonfiction An NPR Politics Podcast Book Club Choice Named one of the Best Books of the Year by: Washington Post * Boston Globe * NPR* Bustle * BookRiot * New York Public Library From the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of White Rage, the startling-and timely-history of voter suppression in America, with a foreword by Senator Dick Durbin. In her New York Times bestseller White Rage, Carol Anderson laid bare an insidious history of policies that have systematically impeded black progress in America, from 1865 to our combustible present. With One Person, No Vote, she chronicles a related history: the rollbacks to African American participation in the vote since the 2013 Supreme Court decision that eviscerated the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Known as the Shelby ruling, this decision effectively allowed districts with a demonstrated history of racial discrimination to change voting requirements without approval from the Department of Justice. Focusing on the aftermath of Shelby, Anderson follows the astonishing story of government-dictated racial discrimination unfolding before our very eyes as more and more states adopt voter suppression laws. In gripping, enlightening detail she explains how voter suppression works, from photo ID requirements to gerrymandering to poll closures. And with vivid characters, she explores the resistance: the organizing, activism, and court battles to restore the basic right to vote to all Americans.
  books on gerrymandering: Unrigged: How Americans Are Battling Back to Save Democracy David Daley, 2020-03-17 The “wildly undersold story” (Lawrence Lessig) of the next American revolution, and the inspiring citizen activists fighting to save America’s fragile democracy. Our country is dominated by a political party that has no interest in governing, and that seeks to entrench its power by limiting democracy—going so far as to force people to the polls in the middle of a pandemic. Yet there is hope, as best-selling author David Daley argues in Unrigged, though it doesn’t lie in Congress, gerrymandered statehouses, or even the courts. We must, instead, look to the grassroots. Introducing us to groups that have pioneered innovative organizing methods—often combining old-school activism with new digital tools—Daley uncovers the story behind voting-rights victories nationwide and the new organizations reinventing our politics. The result is a vivid portrait of a new civic awakening, and an essential toolkit for reviving our democracy in the Trump era and beyond.
  books on gerrymandering: Bushmanders & Bullwinkles Mark Monmonier, 2001-02-15 For years Mark Monmonier, a prose stylist of no mean ability or charm according to the Washington Post, has delighted readers with his insightful understanding of cartography as an art and technology that is both deceptive and revealing. Now he turns his focus to the story of political cartography and the redrawing of congressional districts. His title Bushmanders and Bullwinkles combines gerrymander with the surname of the president who actively tolerated racial gerrymandering and draws attention to the ridiculously shaped congressional districts that evoke the antlers of the moose who shared the cartoon spotlight with Rocky the Flying Squirrel. Written from the perspective of a cartographer rather than a political scientist, Bushmanders and Bullwinkles examines the political tales maps tell when votes and power are at stake. Monmonier shows how redistricting committees carve out favorable election districts for themselves and their allies; how disgruntled politicians use shape to challenge alleged racial gerrymanders; and how geographic information systems can make reapportionment a controversial process with outrageous products. He also explores controversies over the proper roles of natural boundaries, media maps, census enumeration, and ethnic identity. Raising important questions about Supreme Court decisions in regulating redistricting, Monmonier asks if the focus on form rather than function may be little more than a distraction from larger issues like election reform. Characterized by the same wit and clarity as Monmonier's previous books, Bushmanders and Bullwinkles is essential background for understanding what might prove the most contentious political debate of the new decade.
  books on gerrymandering: Drawing the Lines Nicholas R. Seabrook, 2017-02-07 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.
  books on gerrymandering: The Fight to Vote Michael Waldman, 2022-01-18 On cover, the word right has an x drawn over the letter r with the letter f above it.
  books on gerrymandering: You Call this Democracy? Elizabeth Rusch, 2020 America is the greatest democracy in the world . . . isn't it? Author Elizabeth Rusch examines some of the more problematic aspects of our government but, more importantly, offers ways for young people to fix them. The political landscape has never been so tumultuous: issues with the electoral college, gerrymandering, voter suppression, and a lack of representation in the polls and in our leadership have led to Americans of all ages asking, How did we get here? The power to change lies with the citizens of this great country--especially teens Rather than pointing fingers at people and political parties, You Call This Democracy? looks at flaws in the system--and offers a real way out of the mess we are in. Each chapter breaks down a different problem plaguing American democracy, exploring how it's undemocratic, offering possible solutions (with examples of real-life teens who have already started working toward them), and suggesting ways to effect change--starting NOW
  books on gerrymandering: Elbridge Gerry's Salamander Gary W. Cox, Jonathan N. Katz, 2002-03-04 Publisher Description.
  books on gerrymandering: Colorblind Injustice J. Morgan Kousser, 2000-11-09 Challenging recent trends both in historical scholarship and in Supreme Court decisions on civil rights, J. Morgan Kousser criticizes the Court's postmodern equal protection and demonstrates that legislative and judicial history still matter for public policy. Offering an original interpretation of the failure of the First Reconstruction (after the Civil War) by comparing it with the relative success of the Second (after World War II), Kousser argues that institutions and institutional rules--not customs, ideas, attitudes, culture, or individual behavior--have been the primary forces shaping American race relations throughout the country's history. Using detailed case studies of redistricting decisions and the tailoring of electoral laws from Los Angeles to the Deep South, he documents how such rules were designed to discriminate against African Americans and Latinos. Kousser contends that far from being colorblind, Shaw v. Reno (1993) and subsequent racial gerrymandering decisions of the Supreme Court are intensely color-conscious. Far from being conservative, he argues, the five majority justices and their academic supporters are unreconstructed radicals who twist history and ignore current realities. A more balanced view of that history, he insists, dictates a reversal of Shaw and a return to the promise of both Reconstructions.
  books on gerrymandering: How to Rig an Election Nic Cheeseman, Brian Klaas, 2024-07-23 An engrossing analysis of the pseudo-democratic methods employed by despots around the world to retain control Contrary to what is commonly believed, authoritarian leaders who agree to hold elections are generally able to remain in power longer than autocrats who refuse to allow the populace to vote. In this engaging and provocative book, Nic Cheeseman and Brian Klaas expose the limitations of national elections as a means of promoting democratization, and reveal the six essential strategies that dictators use to undermine the electoral process in order to guarantee victory for themselves. Based on their firsthand experiences as election watchers and their hundreds of interviews with presidents, prime ministers, diplomats, election officials, and conspirators, Cheeseman and Klaas document instances of election rigging from Argentina to Zimbabwe, including notable examples from Brazil, India, Nigeria, Russia, and the United States—touching on the 2016 election. This eye-opening study offers a sobering overview of corrupted professional politics, while providing fertile intellectual ground for the development of new solutions for protecting democracy from authoritarian subversion.
  books on gerrymandering: What Does the Constitution Actually Say? Ben Sheehan, 2020-04-14 Do you know what the Constitution ACTUALLY says? This witty and highly relevant annotation of our founding document is the go-to guide to how our government really works (or is supposed to work). Written by political savant and entertainment veteran, Ben Sheehan, and vetted for accuracy by experts in the field of constitutional law, OMG WTF Does the Constitution Actually Say? is an entertaining and accessible guide that explains what the Constitution actually lays out. With clear notes and graphics on everything from presidential powers to Supreme Court nominations to hidden loopholes, Sheehan walks us through the entire Constitution from its preamble to its final amendment (with a bonus section on the Declaration of Independence). Besides putting the Constitution in modern-day English so that it can be understood, OMG WTF Does the Constitution Actually Say? gives readers all of the info they need to be effective voters and citizens in the November elections and beyond.
  books on gerrymandering: Rethinking US Election Law Steven Mulroy, Recent U.S. elections have defied nationwide majority preference at the White House, Senate, and House levels. This work of interdisciplinary scholarship explains how “winner-take-all” and single-member district elections make this happen, and what can be done to repair the system. Proposed reforms include the National Popular Vote interstate compact (presidential elections); eliminating the Senate filibuster; and proportional representation using Ranked Choice Voting for House, state, and local elections.
  books on gerrymandering: Ratf**ked: Why Your Vote Doesn't Count David Daley, 2016-06-07 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.
  books on gerrymandering: Vote! Coral Celeste Frazer, 2019 Looks at the history of women's suffrage, focusing on leaders such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Alice Paul, Carrie Chapman Catt, and others.
  books on gerrymandering: Gerrymandering Texas Steve Bickerstaff, 2020-09-20 What if gerrymandering were not just a hot button contemporary political issue but actually a deep story of how Texas came to be? Gerrymandering Texas uses relevant legislation and court cases to tell the political history of the state of Texas. Writing out of decades of experience as an assistant attorney general, senate parliamentarian, expert consultant on redistricting, and law professor, Steve Bickerstaff traces the story of this political practice from 1836 up to the present and prognosticates what lies ahead for the 2020 census and 2021 redistricting. Since redistricting is the story of boundaries, borders, and representation, Bickerstaff?s book also tells the story of Texas?s evolution over time. The various Texas constitutions are unpacked, and the changing racial makeup of the state comes into sharp relief. Democrat dominance in state governance gives way to the recent Republican dominance. Bickerstaff?s analysis of redistricting, always clear-headed and even-handed, gives new insight into the history of the Lone Star State. Gerrymandering Texas intersperses history and legal analysis with first-person stories of the author?s own many experiences with redistricting, from trying cases, to serving as expert witness, to consulting during the latest Texas constitutional convention. Many of these stories represent the first time Bickerstaff has made public his private opinions about important moments in recent Texas political history?moments in which Bickerstaff was himself a key supporting player.
  books on gerrymandering: Trumpocalypse David Frum, 2020-05-26 I don't take responsibility at all. Those words of Donald Trump at a March 13, 2020, press conference are likely to be history's epitaph on his presidency. A huge swath of Americans has put their faith in Trump, and Trump only, because they see the rest of the country building a future that doesn’t have a place for them. If they would risk their lives for Trump in a pandemic, they will certainly risk the stability of American democracy. They brought the Trumpocalypse upon the country, and a post-Trumpocalypse country will have to find a way either to reconcile them to democracy - or to protect democracy from them. In Trumpocalypse, David Frum looks at what happens when a third of the electorate refuses to abandon Donald Trump, no matter what he does. Those voters aren’t looking for policy wins. They’re seeking cultural revenge. It is not enough to defeat Donald Trump on election day 2020. Even if Trump peacefully departs office, the trauma he inflicted will distort American and world politics for years to come. Americans must start from where they are, build from what they have, to repair the damage Trump inflicted on the country, to amend the wrongs that, under Trump, they inflicted upon each other. Americans can do better. David Frum shows how—and inspires all readers of all points of view to believe again in the possibilities of American life. Trumpocalypse is both a warning of danger and a guide to reform that will be read and discussed for years to come.
  books on gerrymandering: Of Grunge and Government Krist Novoselic, 2017-11-14 The Nirvana bassist “offers specific platforms for electoral reform . . . as well as charming anecdotes about rock ‘n’ roll as a pursuit of happiness” (Sarah Vowell, The New York Times Book Review). A memoir of both music and politics, Of Grunge and Government tells Krist Novoselic’s story of how during his years with Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, the band made a point of playing benefits—the Rock for Choice show, a concert for gay rights, a fundraising gig for the Balkan Women’s Aid Fund—and how in the ensuing years he has dedicated himself to being a good citizen and participating in American democracy. In this book he shares stories about making music and making a statement—as well as inspiring ideas for anyone who wants to advance progressive causes, to become a more active part of the community, and to make sure our votes count and our voices are heard.
  books on gerrymandering: The Paradox of Representation David Lublin, 2020-11-10 In The Paradox of Representation David Lublin offers an unprecedented analysis of a vast range of rigorous, empirical evidence that exposes the central paradox of racial representation: Racial redistricting remains vital to the election of African Americans and Latinos but makes Congress less likely to adopt policies favored by blacks. Lublin's evidence, together with policy recommendations for improving minority representation, will make observers of the political scene reconsider the avenues to fair representation. Using data on all representatives elected to Congress between 1972 and 1994, Lublin examines the link between the racial composition of a congressional district and its representative's race as well as ideology. The author confirms the view that specially drawn districts must exist to ensure the election of African Americans and Latinos. He also shows, however, that a relatively small number of minorities in a district can lead to the election of a representative attentive to their interests. When African Americans and Latinos make up 40 percent of a district, according to Lublin's findings, they have a strong liberalizing influence on representatives of both parties; when they make up 55 percent, the district is almost certain to elect a minority representative. Lublin notes that particularly in the South, the practice of concentrating minority populations into a small number of districts decreases the liberal influence in the remaining areas. Thus, a handful of minority representatives, almost invariably Democrats, win elections, but so do a greater number of conservative Republicans. The author proposes that establishing a balance between majority-minority districts and districts where the minority population would be slightly more dispersed, making up 40 percent of a total district, would allow more African Americans to exercise more influence over their representatives.
  books on gerrymandering: Mathematics to the Rescue of Democracy Paolo Serafini, 2020-03-02 This book explains, in a straightforward way, the foundations upon which electoral techniques are based in order to shed new light on what we actually do when we vote. The intention is to highlight the fact that no matter how an electoral system has been designed, and regardless of the intentions of those who devised the system, there will be goals that are impossible to achieve but also opportunities for improving the situation in an informed way. While detailed descriptions of electoral systems are not provided, many references are made to current or past situations, both as examples and to underline particular problems and shortcomings. In addition, a new voting method that avoids the many paradoxes of voting theory is described in detail. While some knowledge of mathematics is required in order to gain the most from the book, every effort has been made to ensure that the subject matter is easily accessible for non-mathematicians, too. In short, this is a book for anyone who wants to understand the meaning of voting.
  books on gerrymandering: A Divided Union Dario Moreno, Eduardo Gamarra, Patrick Murphy, David Jolly, 2020-10-26 A Divided Union delves deep into ten pressing political challenges that former US Representatives Patrick Murphy (D) and David Jolly (R) have identified over their multiple terms in Congress and that continue to plague the American electorate today. In an introduction describing their unique paths to Congress, Murphy and Jolly focus in detail on key institutional barriers they faced in Washington in attempting to do the job voters elected them to do. They introduce us to geographic challenges, demographic change, a polarized media, gerrymandering, the role of money in politics, the structure of primary elections, and several other aspects of political life on Capitol Hill. The core of the book is original analysis by experts who tackle these topics in a manner relevant to both the seasoned political science student as well as the general reader. From the commercials we see on TV to the city council districts in which we live, these concerns shape every facet of our public lives and are distilled here in a careful synthesis of years of experience and research. Contributors include former federal elected officials, political science professors, members of the press, and scholars immersed in their fields of study. While other textbooks may examine similar issues, few have been edited by former members of the U.S. House who have walked the halls of Congress and directly experienced political dysfunction at so many levels – and are willing to address it. A Divided Union is appropriate for all political science students as well as the general public frustrated and alarmed by political gridlock.
  books on gerrymandering: #AgainstTrump Jeffrey C. Isaac, 2018-11-14 Few predicted the ascendancy of Donald Trump to the US presidency, a development with a huge impact on international relations, trade, environmental policy, and the very possibility of liberal democracy itself. Those of us committed to democratic values, truth, and human rights, feel compelled to resist. And yet the fight against Trump is hardly a united front. In this collection of essays, Jeffrey C. Isaac argues that the threat posed to liberal democracy by illiberal forces today, from Trump and his authoritarian counterparts in France, Hungary, Poland, and Turkey, warrants a strong democratic response, centered on both defending and extending the core commitments of liberal democracy. Isaac articulates a politics that bridges the gap between liberalism and leftism, pointing the way toward more productive disagreements and more meaningful, effective alliances. To acknowledge the challenges of globalization, to confront fear of the foreign and the foreigner, and to defend truth and the deep meaning of words: that is to be for liberal democracy and #AgainstTrump. Published with Public Seminar. Public Seminar is an online publishing project of The New School. PS publishes articles that provide useful, constructive, illuminating or thought-provoking contributions to the conversation of the times. Using the broad resources of social research, PS seeks to provoke critical and informed discussion by any means necessary in order to confront the fundamental problems of the human condition and pressing problems of the day. Jeffrey C. Isaac is James H. Rudy Professor of Political Science at Indiana University, Bloomington. He is the author of many books, including Arendt, Camus, and Modern Rebellion, Democracy in Dark Times, and The Poverty of Progressivism, and is a Contributing Editor at Dissent and Public Seminar.
  books on gerrymandering: Solutions to Political Polarization in America Nathaniel Persily, 2015-04-27 This volume assembles several top analysts of American politics to focus on solutions to polarization.
  books on gerrymandering: Supermath Anna Weltman, 2020-09-01 Explore the hidden powers of math that shape us, influencing everything from our sense of justice to our perception of beauty. Archaeologists decoding ancient messages. Epidemiologists analyzing the spread of a contagious disease. African Americans seeking full enfranchisement in a society that has worked to exclude them. A family doing puzzles at the kitchen table. These scenarios seem to have little in common. But in fact, each of these groups is faced with a multifaceted challenge—and each is using math to solve it. In Supermath, popular author and educator Anna Weltman showcases the incredible power of mathematics when people apply it outside of the world of pure numbers, introducing it into the realms of science, politics, history, education, and art. Her stories share how math has protected us from war and disease, helped us communicate across time and space, and made the world a fairer and more beautiful place. But Weltman also warns us that dangers arise when the transformative might of numbers goes unchecked. Mathematics has been used to mistranslate records, silence indigenous communities, create gerrymandered voting districts, close the gates of higher education. Sometimes, math can blind those who wield it to its limitations, causing those who would deploy it to solve problems to instead create more. Drawing on history and current events, Weltman tackles five fascinating questions: Is math the universal language? Can math eliminate bias? Can math predict the next move? Can math open doors? And finally, What is genuine beauty? Supermath is an enlightening book that pursues complex lines of mathematical thought while providing a fascinating lens into global problems and human culture as a whole.
  books on gerrymandering: The Embattled Vote in America Allan J. Lichtman, 2020-02-18 “A sweeping look at the history of voting rights in the U.S.”—Vox Who has the right to vote? And who benefits from exclusion? For most of American history, the right to vote has been a privilege restricted by wealth, sex, race, and literacy. Economic qualifications were finally eliminated in the nineteenth century, but the ideal of a white man’s republic persisted long after that. Women and racial minorities had to fight hard and creatively to secure their voice, but voter identification laws, registration requirements, and voter purges continue to prevent millions of American citizens from voting. An award-winning historian and voting right activist, Allan Lichtman gives us the history behind today’s headlines. He shows that political gerrymandering and outrageous attempts at voter suppression have been a fixture of American democracy—but so have efforts to fight back and ensure that every citizen’s voice be heard. “Lichtman uses history to contextualize the fix we’re in today. Each party gropes for advantage by fiddling with the franchise... Growing outrage, he thinks, could ignite demands for change. With luck, this fine history might just help to fan the flame.” —New York Times Book Review “The great value of Lichtman’s book is the way it puts today’s right-wing voter suppression efforts in their historical setting. He identifies the current push as the third crackdown on African-American voting rights in our history.” —Michael Tomasky, New York Review of Books
  books on gerrymandering: Becoming a Democracy Kristin Eberhard, 2021-01-11 The United States wasn't built as a democracy. The Senate doesn't represent people. Both sides hate gerrymandering and the courts refuse to fix it. Our right to be heard is defeated by voter suppression and an Electoral College system that concentrates power in a handful of states and too often reverses the popular vote. But within our flawed system, we have the tools to tackle our most stubborn election problems by flexing state and local power (no constitutional amendments or courts required). Kristin Eberhard, Director of Democracy at Sightline Institute, thoughtfully researched how the U.S. election system is unjust to many by design, and walks us through 10 big but practical ideas for making our elections free, fair, and secure. A field guide to better elections for both sides of the aisle, Becoming a Democracy illuminates the meaningful, concrete actions that we can take to transform our elections and make sure everyone's vote counts (and that we all get to vote in the first place).
  books on gerrymandering: Redistricting in Comparative Perspective Lisa Handley, Bernard Grofman, 2008-06-26 The aim of this book is threefold. First to put in one place for the convenience of both scholars and practitioners the basic data on redistricting practices in democracies around the world. Remarkably, this data has never before been collected. Second, to provide a series of short case studies that look in more detail at particular countries with regard to the institutions and practices that have evolved for redistricting and the nature of the debates that have arisen. Third, to begin to look in comparative perspective at the consequences of alternative redistricting mechanisms and at the tradeoffs among competing redistricting criteria. This volume has contributions from some of the leading specialists on redistricting in the world. The chapters reflect a mix of country-specific material, chapters that are broadly comparative, and chapters whose contributions are more methodological in nature. The chapters in this volume provide an indispensable introduction to the institutions, practices, and consequences of boundary delimitation around the world. Comparative Politics is a series for students and teachers of political science that deals with contemporary issues in comparative government and politics. The General Editors are David M. Farrell, Jean Monnet Chair in European Politics and Head of School of Social Sciences, University of Manchester and Alfio Mastropaolo, University of Turin. The series is published in association with the European Consortium for Political Research.
  books on gerrymandering: America Votes! Benjamin E. Griffith, 2008 This book is a snapshot of America's voting and electoral practices, problems, and most current issues. The book addresses a variety of fundamental areas concerning election law from a federal perspective such as the Help America Vote Act, lessons learned from the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections, voter identification, and demographic and statistical experts in election litigation, and more. It is a useful guide for lawyers as well as law school professors, election officials, state and local government personnel, and election workers.
  books on gerrymandering: How the Right Lost Its Mind Charles J. Sykes, 2017-10-03 Bracing and immediate. - The Washington Post Once at the center of the American conservative movement, bestselling author and radio host Charles Sykes is a fierce opponent of Donald Trump and the right-wing media that enabled his rise. In How the Right Lost Its Mind, Sykes presents an impassioned, regretful, and deeply thoughtful account of how the American conservative movement came to lose its values. How did a movement that was defined by its belief in limited government, individual liberty, free markets, traditional values, and civility find itself embracing bigotry, political intransigence, demagoguery, and outright falsehood? How the Right Lost its Mind addresses: *Why are so many voters so credulous and immune to factual information reported by responsible media? *Why did conservatives decide to overlook, even embrace, so many of Trump’s outrages, gaffes, conspiracy theories, falsehoods, and smears? *Can conservatives govern? Or are they content merely to rage? *How can the right recover its traditional values and persuade a new generation of their worth?
  books on gerrymandering: Democracy and Elections Richard S. Katz, 1997 Analyzing the electoral systems of various countries, including those of developing nations, this work examines the relationship between democratic theory values and the electoral institutions used to achieve them. Empirical data is used to find the institutions most appropriate to each model.