Joel Sievert
Georgiamanders: Lesson Plan
Goals
The primary objective is to help students better understand the redistricting process, how it
operates in Georgia and other states, and why it matters for political outcomes. To that end, by
the end of this class, students should be able to do the following:
1. Explain what we mean by gerrymander and why it is important.
2. Explain the different methods of conducting redistricting and which method Georgia uses.
3. Explain the significance of one-person, one-vote and the legal argument for the decision. What
were the implications of this decision for Georgia politics?
Methods
Video
TED-Ed video on gerrymandering: http://bit.ly/ReVC9m
Lecture
1. What is gerrymandering and why do we care?
A. Gerrymandering: manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to
favor one party or class.
B. Why do we care? It can influence who is elected into office and the balance of power
for the next decade.
C. Implications for Georgia
i. Historically, gerrymandering allowed the Democrats to stay in power for far
longer than they would have otherwise.
ii. Gerrymandering is likely to prove consequential for Republican fortunes in
continuing to control state government in the decades to come.
E. Not always about congressional races: Example of Nebraska redrawing congressional
district to prevent President Obama from winning the district in 2012.
2. How do states conduct redistricting?
A. Georgia: legislature redraws the districts, conducted in a special session. Governor has
veto power.
B. Missouri: legislature redraws congressional districts, but commissions redraw State
House and Senate districts. Commission members are barred from running for state office
for four years after redistricting.
C. Iowa: nonpartisan Legislative Services Bureau is responsible for drawing districts and
the state legislature approves the proposal. Must follow four criteria:
i. population equality
ii. contiguity
iii. unity of counties and cities (maintaining county lines and “nesting” house districts within senate districts and senate districts within congressional districts);
Joel Sievert
Georgiamanders: Lesson Plan
iv. compactness
D. What are the results of these different approaches? Provide maps of each state.
E. Slate Gerrymandering quiz: http://slate.me/19wVOM8
F. FairVote State-by-State Analysis: http://bit.ly/13QJ3uI
3. One-Person, One-Vote
A. Based on the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
B. What did it mean for Georgia?
i. First, the decision led to the demise of the county unit system that advantaged
the rural counties.
ii. Second, it led to the first African American state and congressional
representatives since Reconstruction.
iii. Lastly, the more equitable apportionment allowed for the emergence of
Republican state legislators.
Simulation
The goal of the simulation is to have the students to formulate their own districting plans for a
hypothetical state. Each group will be given the same map, but will be assigned roles as either a
partisan or nonpartisan group. The nonpartisan group will be tasked with creating the most
equitable apportionment they can that follows existing geographic lines. The partisan groups will
be tasked with maximizing support for one of the two parties. Both groups will need to create
districts that are roughly equal in population.
Results
Discussion Questions
1. Have each group discuss the criteria they used in their redistricting plan.
2. What was the most challenging part of creating your districting plan? For example, keeping
equal population, following existing geographic lines?
3. For the partisan groups, did you choose to follow a cracking or a packing strategy? Explain.