Gerrymandering: Election and Politicians
Gerrymandering
The term gerrymandering refers to the practice of altering voting districts in order to achieve electoral results favorable to one person or party, usually the incumbent politician or party creating the new voting regions.1 This term, dating back to 1812, is an established method for incumbent politicians to improve their heresthetical “defense,” by manipulating the dimensions of the political landscape.2 This tactic is extremely common in the United States and a prime example of politicians acting as manipulators. This essay will argue that politicians are manipulators, as evidenced by the gerrymandering of voting districts to improve odds of maintaining power, and opposition attempts to counteract this electoral maneuvering. The term “Gerrymander” originated in Boston in 1812 while Elbridge Gerry was governor of Massachusetts.3 In the previous year, Governor Gerry ratified a redistricting plan that greatly improved the odds of his Democratic-Republican Party in the state senate elections.4 Cartoonists in the Boston Gazette likened the shape of one of the contorted districts to a salamander, and writers in the Massachusetts Spy continued the metaphor by adding Gerry’s name, and accusing the governor of helping elect “Gerrymanders.”5 This term took hold, and was widely used by Federalists throughout the state to disparage the governor’s alteration of voting districts for political gain. Although the term “Gerrymandering” originated in New England in the early nineteenth century, the practice of manipulating electoral regions can be seen as early as 1788.6 Patrick Henry, of the Anti-Federalist party, strategically created the borders of the Fifth Congressional District to ensure that the noted Federalist James Madison would be unable to gain a congressional seat.7 This original gerrymander, although unsuccessful in its attempt to prevent James Madison from becoming elected, set the stage for the method political incumbents would go on to
The term gerrymandering refers to the practice of altering voting districts in order to achieve electoral results favorable to one person or party, usually the incumbent politician or party creating the new voting regions.1 This term, dating back to 1812, is an established method for incumbent politicians to improve their heresthetical “defense,” by manipulating the dimensions of the political landscape.2 This tactic is extremely common in the United States and a prime example of politicians acting as manipulators. This essay will argue that politicians are manipulators, as evidenced by the gerrymandering of voting districts to improve odds of maintaining power, and opposition attempts to counteract this electoral maneuvering. The term “Gerrymander” originated in Boston in 1812 while Elbridge Gerry was governor of Massachusetts.3 In the previous year, Governor Gerry ratified a redistricting plan that greatly improved the odds of his Democratic-Republican Party in the state senate elections.4 Cartoonists in the Boston Gazette likened the shape of one of the contorted districts to a salamander, and writers in the Massachusetts Spy continued the metaphor by adding Gerry’s name, and accusing the governor of helping elect “Gerrymanders.”5 This term took hold, and was widely used by Federalists throughout the state to disparage the governor’s alteration of voting districts for political gain. Although the term “Gerrymandering” originated in New England in the early nineteenth century, the practice of manipulating electoral regions can be seen as early as 1788.6 Patrick Henry, of the Anti-Federalist party, strategically created the borders of the Fifth Congressional District to ensure that the noted Federalist James Madison would be unable to gain a congressional seat.7 This original gerrymander, although unsuccessful in its attempt to prevent James Madison from becoming elected, set the stage for the method political incumbents would go on to
Cited: Amy, Douglas J,. Real Choices/New Voices: How Proportional Representation Could Revitalize American Democracy. New York: Columbia University Press, 2002. Online. “Gerrymandering, Pure and Simple.” Editorial. The New York Times. 11 November 2009. Riker, William H. The Art of Political Manipulation. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1986. Print. Robins, Michael D. Gerrymander and the Need for Redistricting Reform. Version 7. FraudFactor.com, 5 December 2000. Online. 4 December 2011. Stroupe Jr., Kenneth S. “Gerrymandering’s Long History in Virgina: Will This Decade Mark the End?” The Virginia News Letter. Volume 85 No. 1 (2009): 1-10. Online.