Redistricting and Gerrymandering

Is This Democracy?

“As a mapmaker, I can have more of an impact on an election than a campaign … more of an impact than a candidate. When I, as a mapmaker, have more of an impact on an election than the voters … the system is out of whack.”

– David Winston

In a good sentence speculate as to what Winston meant by this quote. In other words, how could a mapmaker have a greater impact on an election than a campaign, candidate, or even a voter.

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Reapportionment and Redistricting

• Every 10 years a census is taken and the census bureau redistributes the 435 congressional members (Reapportionment).
• Also occurs at the state level
• When a state gains or loses seats districts are redrawn. This is done by the states (Redistricting).

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What is Gerrymandering?

• Define Gerrymandering from the video.
• What are the methods used to Gerrymander districts?

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What observations can you make as you analyze the Colorado Legislative Maps?

Colorado U.S. House Districts

Colorado State Senate Districts

Colorado State House Districts

Redistricting in Colorado

• Go to www.colorado.gov and click on the State Legislature Link.
• Next, click on the Redistricting link.
• Use the information to answer the following questions.

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• Describe how redistricting is done in Colorado for both Congress and the General Assembly.
• What concerns might a person have about the way Colorado draws their political maps?

How is Redistricting Done in Colorado?

• U.S. Congressional Redistricting- Colorado General Assembly draws the Congressional maps through the legislative process.
• General Assembly Redistricting- Colorado Reapportionment Commission draws state districts
• 4 Legislative Leaders
• 3 Governor Appointees
• 4 Appointees of the Chief Justice of the CO Supreme Court
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• Redrawn Districts must be…
• Equal in population
• Absent of racial discrimination
• Compact and Contiguous
• Preserve county and municipal boundaries
• Preserve Community Interests

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• Often Challenged in Court
• Meetings are open to the public
• What do you like/Dislike about how Colorado redraws political maps?

Play the Redistricting Game

• Go to www.redistrictinggame.org and complete mission 2 (partisan gerrymandering) under the basic difficulty.

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• When you have completed the game answer the following prompt in your notebook.
• “Why is or isn’t David Winston correct in stating that mapmakers have a greater impact on our democracy than campaigns, candidates, and even voters?”

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“As a mapmaker, I can have more of an impact on an election than a campaign … more of an impact than a candidate. When I, as a mapmaker, have more of an impact on an election than the voters … the system is out of whack.”

– David Winston

How Does Gerrymandering Affect Our Political System?

• Watch the Video and Read the Article then describe specific examples of how Gerrymandering negatively affects our political system.

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• What could be a positive effect of Gerrymandering on our political system?

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Final Reflection

• Why is or isn’t Gerrymandering a serious threat to our democratic system?

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• Constitutionally, reapportionment and redistricting must be done. How would you recommend this process be done in order to best reflect principles of democracy?

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