The Three Branches of Government · Weeks 1-9

Congressional Redistricting & Gerrymandering

The politics of Census data, reapportionment, and the drawing of district lines for political advantage.

About This Topic

This topic explores the highly political process of drawing legislative district boundaries. Students learn about the decennial census, the reapportionment of House seats, and the subsequent redistricting performed by state legislatures. The focus is on 'gerrymandering', the practice of drawing lines to favor one party or group, and the techniques of 'packing' and 'cracking' voters to minimize their influence.

For 12th graders, this is a critical lesson in how the 'rules of the game' can determine election outcomes before a single vote is cast. It connects to issues of racial equity and political polarization. This topic comes alive when students can physically model the patterns of district drawing using maps and data to see how different lines produce different winners.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze census data to explain its role in reapportionment and redistricting.
• Evaluate the impact of gerrymandering techniques, such as 'packing' and 'cracking', on election outcomes.
• Compare and contrast the arguments for and against using independent commissions versus state legislatures for drawing district lines.
• Critique the effectiveness of judicial review in regulating partisan gerrymandering.
• Synthesize information to propose potential reforms for the redistricting process.

Before You Start

The U.S. Census and Representation

Why: Students need to understand the constitutional basis and purpose of the census for reapportionment before examining redistricting.

Structure and Function of the U.S. Congress

Why: Knowledge of how congressional districts translate into representation in the House of Representatives is foundational to understanding redistricting.

Key Vocabulary

Reapportionment	The process of reassigning the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives to the states based on population changes determined by the decennial census.
Redistricting	The process of redrawing the boundaries of congressional districts within a state after reapportionment or due to population shifts, often influenced by political considerations.
Gerrymandering	The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one political party, group, or incumbent, often resulting in oddly shaped districts.
Packing	A gerrymandering technique that concentrates voters of the opposing party into a single district, ensuring they win that district overwhelmingly but limiting their influence elsewhere.
Cracking	A gerrymandering technique that divides voters of the opposing party among multiple districts, diluting their voting power in each district.

Active Learning Ideas

Simulation Game: The Redistricting Challenge

Give students a grid of 'voters' (Red and Blue). They must draw 5 districts. First, they must draw them to be 'fair.' Then, they must redraw them to ensure a 'Red' win, then a 'Blue' win, using the same data.

⏱ 50 min·Individual

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Think-Pair-Share: Independent Commissions

Students read about states that use independent commissions vs. those where the legislature draws the lines. They discuss the pros and cons of taking the power away from politicians and the impact on 'safe' vs. 'competitive' seats.

⏱ 30 min·Pairs

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Gallery Walk: Gerrymander 'Art'

Display maps of the most oddly shaped districts in the US (e.g., the 'Goofy Kicking Donald Duck' district). Students must guess why the lines were drawn that way and what specific groups were being 'packed' or 'cracked.'

⏱ 40 min·Small Groups

Generate mission

Real-World Connections

Political scientists and election lawyers at organizations like the Brennan Center for Justice analyze district maps and litigate gerrymandering cases, impacting representation in Congress and state legislatures.

Local election officials in states like North Carolina or Pennsylvania grapple with the practical challenges of implementing new district maps drawn by legislatures or commissions, ensuring fair access to polling places.

Voters in swing districts often experience the direct consequences of gerrymandering, seeing their representatives elected with narrow margins or facing uncompetitive general elections due to district design.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Gerrymandering is illegal.

What to Teach Instead

While 'racial gerrymandering' is unconstitutional, the Supreme Court has largely ruled that 'partisan gerrymandering' is a political issue the courts cannot fix. Peer analysis of court cases like Rucho v. Common Cause helps clarify this complex legal reality.

Common Misconception

Redistricting only happens at the federal level.

What to Teach Instead

It happens for state legislatures and even city councils. A local map investigation helps students see that the 'lines' affect their representation at every level of government.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Provide students with a simplified map of a hypothetical state and census data. Ask them to draw two different congressional districts using either 'packing' or 'cracking' principles, then write one sentence explaining the intended political outcome of each drawing.

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'Given the historical and ongoing debates about gerrymandering, what is the most compelling argument for or against state legislatures retaining control over redistricting?' Facilitate a debate where students must support their claims with evidence from the lesson.

Exit Ticket

On an index card, students should define 'gerrymandering' in their own words and then identify one specific consequence of this practice for either voters or elected officials.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 'packing' and 'cracking'?

Packing is concentrating the opposing party's voters into one district to 'waste' their votes. Cracking is spreading them across many districts so they never form a majority. Both are used to maximize one party's seat count.

How does the census impact redistricting?

The census provides the population data that tells states how many people must be in each district to ensure 'one person, one vote.' If a state's population grows or shrinks relative to others, it may gain or lose entire seats in Congress.

How can active learning help students understand gerrymandering?

It is nearly impossible to understand the impact of gerrymandering through a lecture. When students physically draw lines on a map and see how they can turn a 60% majority into a minority of seats, the 'math' of political power becomes clear. This hands-on manipulation surfaces the ethical dilemmas of the process immediately.

What was the significance of Baker v. Carr?

This landmark case established that the Supreme Court could hear cases about redistricting. It led to the 'one person, one vote' standard, ensuring that districts must be roughly equal in population so that every citizen's vote carries the same weight.