Forms of Government & Electoral Geography

A. Forms of Government Ex: France, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan 1. unitary: highly centralized government where the capital city serves as a focus of power Ex: France, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan 2. federal: a government where the state is organized into territories, which have control over policies & funds Ex: USA, Mexico, India, Russia

Unitary or Federal States?

Nigeria’s Government – Allows states to determine whether to have Shari’a Law federal or unitary? Shari’a Law: legal systems based on traditional Islamic laws

The U.S. Government – Allows individual states to determine “moral” laws such as death penalty, access to alcohol, and concealed weapons. Federal or Unitary? Minnesota’s concealed weapons law: requires the posting of signs such as this on buildings that do not allow concealed weapons.

B. Electoral Geography 1. a state’s electoral system is part of its political spatial organization In the U.S.: - territorial representation (i.e.: electoral college) - (due to new census data every 10 yrs), which causes “gerrymandering” - voting rights for minority populations

Gerrymandering: Majority-Minority 1. drawing voting districts to benefit one political party over another Majority-Minority districts drawn so that the majority of the population in the district is from a minority.

http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/

Gerrymandering Made Simple Democrats Rule Republicans Rule Nobody Rules Each color represents a different voting district

Gerrymandering, CGP Grey-style! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mky11U Jb9AY

Iowa One of the least diverse (and therefore least gerrymandered) states

2. The excess vote technique R D Concentrate one group in a district False pretense of representation

3. The wasted vote technique Break up concentrations of voters Dilutes their voting power R D

4. The stacked vote technique Groups power bases together Favored by incumbents R D

The “Bullwinkle” (New York’s 12th district): a Hispanic majority Images from Mark Monmonier’s Bushmanders and Bullwinkles: How Politicians Manipulate Electronic Maps and Census Data to Win Elections. Univ. Chicago Press, 2001

The “Earmuffs” (Illinois’ 4th): a Hispanic majority

The “Mask of Zorro” (Louisiana’s 4th): a black majority

“Flying fossilized reptile” (Texas’ 30th): a black majority

“Bird with plumage” (Texas’ 29th): a Hispanic majority

“Gnawed wishbone” (Florida’s 3rd): a black majority

Gerrymandering, The Daily Show-style! http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/0adjfq/a merican-horrible-story---gerrymandering