What is Gerrymandering?

Study for the Social Studies BJC Exam. Engage with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare thoroughly for your Social Studies test!

Multiple Choice

What is Gerrymandering?

Explanation:
Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to give one political party an advantage in elections. By shaping districts after a census, mapmakers can group voters who support the opposing party into a few districts (packing) or spread them across many districts (cracking), so that the favored party wins more seats than its overall share of votes would suggest. This term comes from a historic district shaped to benefit a political party, jokingly described as salamander-like. The other options describe when elections are scheduled, where polling places are located, or voting by mail—none of which involve altering district boundaries to influence outcomes.

Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to give one political party an advantage in elections. By shaping districts after a census, mapmakers can group voters who support the opposing party into a few districts (packing) or spread them across many districts (cracking), so that the favored party wins more seats than its overall share of votes would suggest. This term comes from a historic district shaped to benefit a political party, jokingly described as salamander-like.

The other options describe when elections are scheduled, where polling places are located, or voting by mail—none of which involve altering district boundaries to influence outcomes.

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