Welcome Back! Review from previous unit: Three Branches of Government How a Bill Becomes Law Voter Participation New Unit: The Problems of Democracy

Why study politics? It's our duty: every citizen has a responsibility to know how government works, to understand political issues, and hold public officials accountable. Democracy is like a job, and we're the boss(es)! Democracies need informed voters to thrive You're affected by politics, whether you like it or not.

The Problems of Democracy Today's Topic: Gerrymandering

Gerry-what? A Story First printed in March 1812, this political cartoon was drawn in reaction to the state senate electoral districts drawn by the Massachusetts legislature to favour the Democratic-Republican Party candidates of Governor Elbridge Gerry over the Federalists. The caricature satirises the bizarre shape of a district in Essex County, Massachusetts as a dragon-like "monster." Federalist newspapers editors and others at the time likened the district shape to a salamander, and the word gerrymander was a blend of that word and Governor Gerry's last name.

A Recent Example... In 2012 House Elections, Democratic congressional candidates got 53,952,240 votes nationwide compared with 53,402,643 for Republicans, a margin of about half a million votes.* But... *The totals don’t include districts where candidates ran unopposed, and they could be skewed by districts where competitive races brought out extra voters.

A Recent Example... In 2012 House Elections, Democratic congressional candidates got 53,952,240 votes nationwide compared with 53,402,643 for Republicans, a margin of about half a million votes.* But... (R) 234 – (D) 201 What happened? What was that funny word again...? *The totals don’t include districts where candidates ran unopposed, and they could be skewed by districts where competitive races brought out extra voters.

What in the *&$@ is Gerrymandering? Democracy is when voters choose their politicians—Gerrymandering is when politicians choose their voters -Unknown

What Does It Look Like? Illinois' 4th District as a result of its most recent redistricting. It was featured by The Economist as one of the most strangely drawn and gerrymandered congressional districts in the country[2] and has been nicknamed "earmuffs" due to its shape.[3] It was created to contain two majority Hispanic parts of Chicago. Cook PVI: D+29

How Does It Happen?

So...the fox guards the henhouse?

Welcome to... Gerrymandering: THE GAME Class Activity Time! Welcome to... Gerrymandering: THE GAME Let's play!

For More Info: Watch the 2010 documentary, Gerrymandering If you like video/computer games, go online, and play The Redistricting Game

Why bother? “Many forms of Government have been tried and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government...

except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time ...except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time -Winston Churchill