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gerrymandering:
n. (1812)
1. The practice of dividing a geographical area into electoral districts, often of highly irregular shape, to give one political party an unfair advantage by diluting the opposition’s voting strength. * When Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry ran for reelection in 1812, members of his political party, the anti-Federalists, altered the state’s voting districts to benefit the party. One newly created district resembled a salamander, inspiring a critic to coin the word gerrymander by combining the governor’s name, Gerry, with the ending of salamander. Gerry was not reelected governor, but was elected as James Madison’s vice president. — aka political gerrymandering.
2. The practice of dividing any geographical or jurisdictional area into political units (such as school districts) to give some group a special advantage. — aka partisan gerrymandering; jurisdictional gerrymandering. Cf. REAPPORTIONMENT. — gerrymander, vb. [1]
A word derived from the name of Hon. Elbridge Gerry, a former governor of Massachusetts. So contriving in fixing the boundary lines of legislative districts as to give an unfair advantage to one political party. Anno: 2 ALR 1337; 25 Am J2d Elect § 18.
An unfair method adopted by a political party in control of the legislature, whereby the boundaries of election districts are altered and arranged as to prevent a majority vote in such districts in favor of the opposing political party, which, under a fair and normal apportionment, would represent a majority vote in those districts. State ex rel. Morris v Wrightson, 56 NJL 126, 28 A 56.
Fixing school attendance zones in such manner as to segregate the races in the schools. 15 Am J2d Civ R § 39. [2]
1. Manipulating the boundary lines of a political district (EXAMPLE: a congressional district) to give an unfair advantage to one political party or to dilute the political strength of voters of a particular race, color, or national origin.
See apportionment of representatives. [3]
Various Forms of Gerrymandering:
delineational gerrymandering – (1976) Gerrymandering by varying the districts’ shape, * There are three kinds of delineational gerrymandering: cracking (or fracturing), packing, and stacking.
- cracking – n. A gerrymandering technique in which a geographically concentrated political or racial group that is large enough to constitute a district’s dominant force is broken up by district lines and dispersed throughout two or more districts. — aka fracturing. [1]
- packing – n. A gerrymandering technique in which a dominant political or racial group minimizes minority representation by concentrating the minority into as few districts as possible.
- stacking – A gerrymandering technique in which a large political or racial group is combined in the same district with a larger opposition group.
institutional gerrymandering – (1973) Gerrymandering by means of varying the number of representatives per district.
racial gerrymandering – (1961) Gerrymandering along racial lines, or with excessive regard for the racial composition of the electorate. [1]
References:
Disclaimer: All material throughout this website is compiled in accordance with Fair Use.
[1]: Black’s Law Dictionary Deluxe Tenth Edition by Henry Campbell Black & Editor in Chief Bryan A. Garner. ISBN: 978-0-314-62130-6
[2]: Ballantine’s Law Dictionary with Pronunciations
Third Edition by James A. Ballantine (James Arthur 1871-1949). Edited by William S. Anderson. © 1969 by THE LAWYER’S CO-OPERATIVE PUBLISHING COMPANY. Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 68-30931
[3]: Ballantine’s Law Dictionary Legal Assistant Edition
by Jack Ballantine (James Arthur 1871-1949). Doctored by Jack G. Handler, J.D. © 1994 Delmar by Thomson Learning. ISBN 0-8273-4874-6.
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