1. Forms of Government & Electoral Geography

2. A. Forms of Government 1. unitary: highly centralized government where the capital city serves as a focus of power Exs: France, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan 2. federal: a government where the state is organized into territories, which have control over policies & funds Exs: 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? 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 Shari’a Law: legal systems based on traditional Islamic laws

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

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) - re-districting (due to new census data every 10 yrs), which causes “gerrymandering” - voting rights for minority populations

7. C. Gerrymandering: 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. Majority-Minority districts drawn so that the majority of the population in the district is from a minority.

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

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

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

11. 2. The excess vote technique Concentrate one group in a district False pretense of representation RRRR RRDD DDDD

12. 3. The wasted vote technique Break up concentrations of voters Dilutes their voting power RRR RRR DDD

13. 4. The stacked vote technique Groups power bases together Favored by incumbents RRRR RRDD DDDD

15. The “Bullwinkle” (New York’s 12 th 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

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

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

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

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

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