{"id":13926,"date":"2018-02-15T01:27:30","date_gmt":"2018-02-15T01:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/?page_id=13926"},"modified":"2018-02-15T02:58:42","modified_gmt":"2018-02-15T02:58:42","slug":"gerrymandering","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/?page_id=13926","title":{"rendered":"Gerrymandering – manipulating boundary lines of political districts 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"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This page is continued from Criminal Law Self-Help<\/a> >>>> Various Crimes and Corresponding Laws<\/a> >>>> Election Fraud and Electioneering<\/a>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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gerrymandering<\/span>:<\/span>
\n<\/strong>n<\/em>. (1812)<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 *\u00a0 When Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry ran for reelection in 1812, members of his political party, the anti-Federalists, altered the state’s <\/strong>voting districts to benefit the party.\u00a0 One newly created district resembled a salamander, inspiring a critic to coin the word gerrymander by combining the governor\u2019s name, Gerry, with the ending of salamander.\u00a0 Gerry was not reelected governor, but was elected as James Madison\u2019s vice president.<\/strong> \u2014 aka political gerrymandering<\/strong><\/em><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. The practice of dividing any geographical or jurisdictional area into political units (such as school districts) to give some group a specia<\/strong>l advantage.<\/strong> \u2014 aka partisan gerrymandering<\/strong><\/em><\/span>; jurisdictional gerrymandering<\/strong><\/em><\/span>. \u00a0 Cf. REAPPORTIONMENT. \u2014 gerrymander<\/strong><\/em><\/span>, vb<\/em>. [1]
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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 \u00a7 18<\/span>. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/em>, 56 NJL 126, 28 A 56<\/span>.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Fixing school attendance zones in such manner as to segregate the races in the schools. 15 Am J2d Civ R \u00a7 39<\/span>.<\/strong> [2]\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/strong><\/span>
\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 See apportionment of representatives<\/em>. [3]<\/span><\/p>\n

Various Forms of Gerrymandering:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

delineational gerrymandering<\/span> –<\/strong> (1976) Gerrymandering by varying the districts\u2019 shape,\u00a0 *\u00a0 There are three kinds of delineational gerrymandering: cracking (or fracturing), packing, and stacking.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n