Geography · 10th Grade · Political Geography and Global Power · Weeks 28-36

Gerrymandering and Electoral Districts

Analyzing how the drawing of political boundaries influences election results in the US.

• Common Core State Standards
• C3: D2.Civ.2.9-12
• C3: D2.Geo.3.9-12

About This Topic

Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to give one political party an advantage over another. Named after Governor Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, whose 1812 redistricting produced a salamander-shaped district, the practice has become increasingly sophisticated with modern data tools. Students in 10th grade US geography and civics study gerrymandering as a core example of how spatial decisions translate directly into political power, connecting geographic concepts like boundary-drawing and territory to democratic outcomes.

Two main tactics define modern gerrymandering: "packing," which concentrates opposition voters into as few districts as possible, and "cracking," which splits opposition voters across multiple districts to dilute their influence. Court cases like Rucho v. Common Cause (2019) have shaped the legal landscape, with the Supreme Court ruling that federal courts cannot review partisan gerrymandering claims. State-level solutions like independent redistricting commissions (used in Arizona and California) offer alternative governance models worth examining.

This topic benefits from active learning because students must grapple with competing values: fairness, community representation, and legal constraints. Hands-on redistricting simulations force students to confront the real trade-offs in map-drawing rather than simply absorbing abstract rules.

Key Questions

1. Explain how the shape of a voting district can determine the outcome of an election.
2. Evaluate who should have the power to draw electoral boundaries to ensure fairness.
3. Design a fair electoral map for a hypothetical region.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze how the geographic shape and population distribution of a voting district can be manipulated to favor a specific political party.
• Evaluate the arguments for and against different methods of drawing electoral boundaries, such as independent commissions versus legislative control.
• Design a hypothetical electoral map for a given region, justifying boundary choices based on principles of representation and fairness.
• Compare the effects of 'packing' and 'cracking' strategies on election outcomes using simulated data.
• Explain the legal and political challenges associated with gerrymandering in the United States, referencing key court decisions.

Before You Start

US Census and Population Distribution

Why: Students need to understand how population data is collected and how it changes over time to grasp the basis for redistricting.

Principles of Representative Democracy

Why: Understanding concepts like 'one person, one vote' and the purpose of elected representation is fundamental to analyzing gerrymandering's impact.

Key Vocabulary

Gerrymandering	The practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to favor one political party or group over another, often resulting in oddly shaped districts.
Electoral District	A geographic area represented by one or more elected officials, used for the purpose of voting in elections.
Packing	A gerrymandering technique that concentrates voters of the opposing party into a single district, ensuring they win that district overwhelmingly but lose elsewhere.
Cracking	A gerrymandering technique that divides voters of the opposing party across multiple districts, diluting their voting power in each.
Redistricting	The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries, typically after a census, to reflect population changes and ensure equal representation.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Gerrymandering only benefits Republicans.

What to Teach Instead

Both major parties have used gerrymandering when they control state legislatures. Maryland and Illinois are commonly cited as examples of Democratic gerrymanders. Students examining real maps across multiple states quickly discover this is a bipartisan practice, which strengthens the case for structural reform over partisan blame.

Common Misconception

Oddly shaped districts are always gerrymandered.

What to Teach Instead

District shape alone does not prove gerrymandering. The Voting Rights Act sometimes requires districts that connect geographically dispersed minority communities to ensure representation, producing unusual shapes for legitimate legal reasons. Analyzing both shape and demographic data together gives students a more accurate picture.

Common Misconception

The Supreme Court has solved the gerrymandering problem.

What to Teach Instead

Federal courts can still strike down racial gerrymanders under the Voting Rights Act, but the 2019 Rucho v. Common Cause ruling removed federal oversight of partisan gerrymanders. This means the primary remedies now lie with state courts, state constitutions, and ballot initiatives, which vary widely across the country.

Active Learning Ideas

Simulation Game: Draw the Districts

Provide each small group with a grid representing a hypothetical state with two parties distributed across precincts. Groups must draw five districts following different goals: maximize Party A wins, maximize Party B wins, or create the most competitive districts possible. Groups compare results and discuss what principles should govern real redistricting.

50 min·Small Groups

Gallery Walk: Real Gerrymanders

Post large printouts of notorious gerrymandered districts around the room (North Carolina's 12th, Maryland's 6th, Illinois's 4th). Students rotate in pairs, annotating each map with the packing or cracking strategy used and the demographic or political group targeted. Pairs share findings in a whole-class debrief.

35 min·Pairs

Structured Academic Controversy: Who Should Draw the Maps?

Students research four redistricting models: state legislatures, independent commissions, courts, and algorithmic methods. Each group advocates for one model, presents evidence, then switches sides before the class reaches a consensus position on the best approach.

60 min·Small Groups

Think-Pair-Share: Analyzing Your Own State

Students individually research the current congressional district map of their own state using publicly available mapping tools. They identify any unusual shapes, then pair with a classmate to hypothesize the strategic logic. Pairs share their most striking finding with the class.

25 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Political scientists and demographers at organizations like the Brennan Center for Justice analyze census data and voting patterns to identify and challenge gerrymandered districts, advocating for fairer representation.
• State legislators in many US states are directly involved in the redistricting process, making decisions that can determine which party controls legislative bodies for the next decade.
• Voters in states like California and Michigan experience the effects of redistricting firsthand, potentially seeing their communities split or combined into new districts with different political leanings.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Present students with two maps of a hypothetical state: one drawn fairly and one gerrymandered. Ask them to identify at least two visual clues on the gerrymandered map that suggest manipulation and explain why those clues are significant.

Discussion Prompt

Facilitate a class debate using the prompt: 'Who should have the ultimate authority to draw electoral boundaries in the US: elected officials, an independent commission, or the courts? Why?' Encourage students to support their positions with evidence from the lesson.

Exit Ticket

Ask students to write a short paragraph explaining the difference between 'packing' and 'cracking' and provide one example of how each strategy could impact election results in a specific district.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is gerrymandering and how does it work?

Gerrymandering is the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to give one party a political advantage. It works through two main strategies: packing (concentrating opposition voters into one district to waste their votes) and cracking (splitting opposition voters across several districts so they are never a majority in any of them). The result can make elections predictable regardless of how voters feel about candidates.

Is gerrymandering illegal in the United States?

Racial gerrymandering that dilutes minority voting power is illegal under the Voting Rights Act. However, the Supreme Court ruled in 2019 (Rucho v. Common Cause) that federal courts cannot review claims of partisan gerrymandering. Some state courts have struck down partisan gerrymanders under state constitutions, and several states use independent commissions to draw maps.

What is the difference between packing and cracking in gerrymandering?

Packing concentrates the opposing party's voters into one or two districts, causing them to win those seats by huge margins while wasting votes. Cracking splits the opposing party's voters across many districts so they form a minority in each, winning few or none. Politicians often combine both tactics for maximum effect when drawing maps.

How does active learning help students understand gerrymandering?

Active learning puts students in the position of the map-drawer. By actually trying to gerrymander a fictional state or analyzing their own state's congressional map, students discover the mathematical logic of packed and cracked districts through experience rather than description. This makes the abstract concept of spatial manipulation tangible and builds genuine critical thinking about democratic fairness.