Consider what you have learned about gerrymandering and then answer the following.
A. Why do boundaries of congressional districts have to be redrawn periodically? Your response should be 4 - R sentences.
B. Describe and analyze one proposed method for creating more compact districts. What would be the benefits and drawbacks of this method? Your response should be 4-6 sentences.
(8 points)
A. The boundaries of congressional districts have to be redrawn periodically for a few reasons. Firstly, populations change over time, and the districts need to be adjusted to ensure equal representation. If a district becomes too populous, it may dilute the votes of its citizens as their voices become less meaningful in the larger pool. Conversely, if a district becomes too sparsely populated, its citizens may have a larger political influence than warranted by their numbers. Secondly, redrawing the boundaries can help protect minority representation by creating majority-minority districts. This is done to ensure that minority groups have a fair chance of electing representatives that can advocate for their specific needs and concerns. Finally, periodic redrawing also provides an opportunity to tackle gerrymandering, the manipulation of district boundaries to favor one political party or group over another.
B. One proposed method for creating more compact districts is the use of geometric shapes, such as rectangles or circles, to define boundaries. This method aims to create districts that are more visually compact and have a more regular shape. The benefits of this method include increased transparency and simplicity in the redistricting process, as the use of geometric shapes removes any potential bias towards certain political interests. This also decreases the likelihood of gerrymandering because manipulating boundaries to favor specific groups becomes more difficult. However, there are drawbacks to this method. Geometric shapes may not take into account natural or demographic features, which could result in districts that are geographically disconnected or do not adequately represent the needs and interests of the communities within them. Additionally, compactness alone may not ensure fair representation, as it does not consider other factors such as minority representation or historical community ties.