AP Gov Key Terms (Part 1) - Gerrymandering, Redistricting, Reapportionment, etc.

redistricting

each state determines how to divide electoral district seats by setting new boundaries for congressional seats.

safe districts

Congressional House districts in which incumbents win by margins of 55% or more; these districts are usually dominated by one party rule and one incumbent candidate dominates this district.

marginal districts

Congressional House districts with close elections (typically less than 55% of the vote goes to the winner).

eliminate the competition

a form of bipartisan gerrymandering in which a state's congressional districts are redrawn to protect most of the state's incumbents; this is done by drawing lines that make a district safe for incumbents but also has the effect of making other districts marginal.

packing

a form of bipartisan gerrymandering in which the opposition party loses representation in a particular district so that another party can make that district safe for them; in doing though, it makes the surrounding district(s) more safe for the party that lost representation in the gerrymandered district but still ensures dominance of one party in the state legislature.

one for you, one for me

a form of bipartisan gerrymandering in which the state legislatures agree to protect the seats of Parties / Partisan makeup by drawing lines that make an equal amount of Democrat and Republican redistrict seats safe; however even if the districts are ideologically safe they may have competition between candidates of the same registered party.

cracking

a type of gerrymandering in which one party has more registered voters in several districts in the state; but did not control the overall state legislature and thus the majority party sets up local districts so that their party will control a majority of districts despite having less voters in all the local districts combined; this further reduces the power of their opposition.

Elbridge Gerry

approved an obscure redistricting plan ahead of the 1812 elections that helped Republicans hold onto power in legislature.

malapportionment

characterized by an inequitable or unsuitable apportioning of representatives to a legislative body after redistricting.

tribalism

districts that are drawn in such a way in which a racial group or ethnic group's representation is fairly accounted for; this is more than just drawing a minority-majority district; this type of gerrymandering technique may favor one minority racial / ethnic group over another.

Shaw v. Reno

gerrymandering cannot occur if race is the only determinant in gerrymandering, cannot violate the equal protection clause.

reapportionment

states will gain, keep or lose House seats based on a state's population.

minority-majority districts

the congressional districts drawn to make it easier for minority citizens to elect minority reps (minority party = incumbents of the opposing party that is not in power; majority party = the party in power).

gerrymandering

the redrawing of districts in often odd or bizarre shapes for the sake of establishing a political advantage for a party, group or candidate.

incumbents / incumbency

those individuals that already hold political or congressional office and who are usually reelected.