The Census and Gerrymandering

Census As A Tool For Change Charles Hirschman, scholar of the concept of

race, studied drastic and seemingly random changes to the population of Malaysia over.

By looking at the census he saw that as time passed the colonial census became predominantly racial and less concerned with indigenous religion

Race categories were did not always contain the same choices from census to census

They also included choices that were nothing more than geographic landmarks. This was all people can fall into some category and be administered more easily.

Racial Quantification Pre-Colonial rulers did take a census but

only for military and tax purposes. The colonial census used the data to

administer social services and to enforce a racial hierarchy

Habits were marked and mapped so the people could be ruled from above.

They of course ran into problems when their definition of race was at odds with the definition of race that had been formed over time by the people themselves, not from outsiders.

Gerrymandering Modern states use data much like

colonial powers to administer regions that are not homogenous

Gerrymandering is when borders of a district are manipulated to form a political advantage.

Democracies that use the first past the post system to elect a single candidate to represent a district are at a greater risk for gerrymandering.

Many countries avoid this problem by having only one district or by having district lines drawn by an independent commission

Where Did You Get That Name?

The term Gerrymandering came from Elbridge Gerry, an American politician

The term was coined as a result of his creative district drawing in Massachusetts in order to give his party, the Jefferson Republican party a political advantage.

How and Where Does It Happen?

Mostly occurs ın the Unıted States• 36 states have theır dırstıct borders drawn by

state legıslature• 7 states have an ındıpendat commıssıon• 7 states only have one dıstrıct

Under normal circumstances redistricting takes place after the US census is taken which is every 10 years

Borders are drawn by drawn by and approved by elected state politicians

Both parties take part in the practice of gerrymanderıng

The Texas Redistricting Case

Gerrymandering based solely on race has been ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. However, partisan gerrymandering remains legal.

Some argue that Lay’s plan strengthened the GOP majority in the House by as many as 5 seats.

Racial Gerrymandering

The unusual “earmuff” shape of the 4th Congressional District of Illinois connects two Hispanic neighborhoods while remaining continuous by narrowly tracing Interstate 294.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerrymandering

What Are The Effects?

Less accurate representation Less incentive to vote Can erase the political impact of

certain groups

Dısscussıon Questıons

What are the potentıal changes that can happen to a communıty as a result of gerrymanderıng ın the Unıted States?

How can communities that are gerrymandered to insignificance overcome become represented?

How ıs gerrymandering different than census techniques used by colonizers to manage populations?