ENTRY TASK Discuss at your table: What are geopolitical theories? How can we use geopolitical theories today? What geopolitical theory is illustrated below?

Unit 4 – Political geography Electoral Geography Unit 4 – Political geography

Objectives Content: We will be able to explain how voting patterns and elections can be explained via geography. Language: We will be able to summarize a newspaper article.

Gerrymandering Explained Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mky11UJb9AY What do you think about gerrymandering? When is it a benefit? When is it harmful?

Electoral Geography Boundaries separating legislative districts within the U.S. and other countries are redrawn periodically to ensure each has about the same population 435 districts of the U.S. House of Representatives Redrawn every 10 years Based on U.S. Census Bureau reports Gerrymandering: process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefits the party in power Hinders communication Makes integration of people from fragmented areas difficult

Gerrymandering Wasted Vote (Bottom left) Spreads opposition supporters across many districts but in the minority Excess vote (top left) concentrates opposition voters in a few districts Stacked vote (right) Links areas of like-minded voters through oddly shaped boundaries GERRYMANDERING U.S. Supreme Court ruled gerrymandering illegal in 1985 but did not require dismantling of existing oddly shaped districts.

Wasted Vote If the Blue Party controls the redistricting process, it could create a wasted vote gerrymander by creating four districts with a slender majority of Blue Party voters and one district (#1) with a strong majority of Red Party voters.

Excess Votes If the Red Party controls the redistricting process, it could create an excess vote gerrymander by creating four districts with a slender majority of Red Party voters and one district (#3) with an overwhelming majority of Blue Party voters.

Stacked Vote In this example, the Red Party controls redistricting and creates five oddly shaped districts, four with a slender majority of Red Party voters and one (#3) with an overwhelming majority of Blue Party voters.

Newspaper Article Read the article on a gerrymandering issue in Nebraska and then complete the article summary sheet.

FRQ PRACTICE Read the FRQ questions about gerrymandering. Circle or underline the important question words or APHG terms in the prompt. With a partner: Read through the example student essays and using the rubric decide how you would score each essay.

Homework Read Blij Chapter 7 and complete assignment DUE ON THURSDAY