1. Political Geography

2. Internal Politics

3. Internal Structure of States
Unitary
central govt. dictates all policy from capital
Example: France
France has “departments” but they only implement policy decided by central government
Internal Structure of States

4. Unitary System

5. Internal Structure of States
Unitary
central govt. dictates all policy from capital
Example: France
France has “departments” but they only implement policy decided by central government
Federal
Power is shared between central and regional govts.
Example: U.S. (One of the biggest historical debates in the U.S.)
Globally, there is a trend toward federations
Devolution (weakening of central power)
more local autonomy, recognition of ethnic autonomy
can be centripetal by allowing some regional control
Centrifugal if taken too far
Internal Structure of States

6. Federal System

7. Differences in state laws: federalism in action

8. Internal Structure of States
Unitary
central govt. dictates all policy from capital
Example: France
France has “departments” but they only implement policy decided by central government
Federal
Power is shared between central and regional govts.
Example: U.S. (One of the biggest historical debates in the U.S.)
Globally, there is a trend toward federations
Devolution (weakening of central power)
more local autonomy, recognition of ethnic autonomy
can be centripetal by allowing some regional control
Centrifugal if taken too far
Confederation
little central authority, all power is regional. Only certain limited powers are given to the central govt.
Examples: U.S. under Articles of Confederation
Internal Structure of States

9. Confederal System

10. Systems of governmental power (compared)

11. Gerrymandering every 10 years = census manipulation of redistricting
Seats in Congress are “reapportioned” , therefore…
new maps need to be drawn = redistricting
manipulation of redistricting
Three types
1) Wasted or “cracking”
Spreading opponents strength across several districts in order to weaken
2) Excess or “packing”
Concentrating opponents strength in one district to lessen effect on others
3) “Stacking” (form of packing)
Create majority-minority district
Gerrymandering

12. Gerrymandering: wasted vote or “cracking”
An example of "cracking" gerrymandering. The urban (and mostly liberal) concentration of Columbus, OH, located in Franklin County, is split into thirds, each segment then attached to — and outnumbered by —largely conservative suburbs.
Gerrymandering: wasted vote or “cracking”

14. Excess vote or “packing”

15. Gerrymandering: stacked vote aka “packing”