whats a gerry mander and who is it named after
2007-02-28 18:55:52 · 2 answers · asked by alexandrabrown1996 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
Gerrymander, apportionment of electoral districts in such a way as to give the political party in power an advantage in electing its representatives. Gerrymandering is usually accomplished by so dividing electoral districts as to mass the voters for opposing parties into a small number of districts, while the favored party's electorate is spread out in order to win by a light majority in many districts. One result of this device is to have electoral districts of curious shapes. The term gerrymander originated in 1812, when Governor Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts signed a bill giving his own Republican Party, which had temporarily come into power, such an advantage over the Federalists. One electoral district was shaped so fantastically that it was compared by one Federalist to a salamander. “No,” said another, “better call it a Gerrymander.”
2007-02-28 19:01:25 · answer #1 · answered by Jimmy 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The drawing of electoral boundaries in a way which gives one political party an unfair advantage in elections. Named after Governor Gerry of Massachusetts (1812) who approved a rigged boundary shaped like a salamander, hence the term 'gerrymander'.
2007-02-28 19:30:56 · answer #2 · answered by Eden* 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋