1. Forms of Government & Electoral Geography

2. 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

3. Unitary or Federal States?

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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.

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

10. Gerrymandering, CGP Grey-style!
Jb9AY

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

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

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

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

16. 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

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

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

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

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

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

22. Gerrymandering, The Daily Show-style!
merican-horrible-story---gerrymandering