answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Gerrymandering is all about keeping the status quo. It boils down to drawing the district lines in such a way that it keeps the EXISTING representative in power (or at least, that representative's party).

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

6y ago

Gerrymandering is the process of manipulating electoral constituency boundaries or social housing allotment process so as to favour one party or class and it is illegal.

The people in powers benefit from it by obtaining votes that get them into more powerful positions.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

Politicians gerrymander districts to gain more votes. Gerrymandering is the process of changing the boundaries of the district to include areas that will vote for you.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

Gerrymandering manipulates the boundaries of electoral districts in favor of a particular party or group. It is a method of insuring control.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

7y ago

It isn't legal. Yes, it is being done, but not legal. The law has to be enforced to stop it.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why do politicians gerrymander districts?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about American Government

Why do political parties sometimes gerrymander their districts?

to increase their voting strength


Which of the following is the best definition of gerrymander?

A gerrymander is an oddly shaped district design to increase the voting strength of a particular party. The name comes from salamander-shaped districts drawn up the influence of one Elbridge Gerry , a governor of Massachusetts. As a verb it means to draw up gerrymander districts. Gerrymandering tends to occur after each census which changes the number of Congressional districts in a state. States also need to change their own legislative distrcts from to time to time due to shifts in population and the new districts may be gerrymandered to help the party in power. The idea is to study past voting records and create as many districts as possible with a slight but solid majority for the controling party. It may be necessary to have some "lost" districts to which as many opposing voters as possible are placed.


What is the origin term of gerrymander?

The term is derived from Elbridge Gerry, a Massachusetts governor who redrew the districts in his State to favor his party. One district looked like a snake stretched across the State, so a political cartoonist added claws, wings, and teeth to it and called it a "gerrymander."


What are two goals of politicians when they gerrymander during redistricting?

The goal of "Gerrymandering" is to re-draw a district's boundaries in order to maximize your voters while keeping out your opponents. While typically successful, the remaining districts are then filled with voters from the other party, resulting in districts that vote overwhelmingly for their own party - which then tends to throw the local-city-state-federal governments into gridlock as it becomes virtually impossible for an independent or bi-partisan candidate to be elected.


Where did gerrymandering begin?

The word comes from a former US politician (5th US Vice President) named "Elbridge Gerry" who drew oddly shaped districts that supposedly looked like salamanders in order to make sure that particular districts had a Democratic-Republican majority. The words "Gerry" and "salamander" were merged to create "gerrymander".

Related questions

Why do politicians gerrymander electoral districts?

Politicians gerrymander electoral districts to gain a political advantage. By manipulating the boundaries of the districts, politicians can concentrate the voting power of a particular group or dilute the power of opposing groups. This allows them to solidify their political control and increase the likelihood of winning elections.


Who gerrymander's districts?

state legislatures


Why do political parties gerrymander their districts?

to increase their voting strength


Why do political parties sometimes gerrymander their districts?

to increase their voting strength


What group used it's power to gerrymander congressional districts?

State Legislators


The senator's attempt to voting districts in New Hampshire backfired when he lost the primary to another candidate?

gerrymander


What word describes the practice of the political party with the majority in a state legislature drawing a districts boundaries to gain an advantage in an election?

Gerrymander


What are some ways that political parties at the state level can gerrymander districts?

- They would pack a district with supporters so they would know they won that district.


Which of the following is the best definition of gerrymander?

A gerrymander is an oddly shaped district design to increase the voting strength of a particular party. The name comes from salamander-shaped districts drawn up the influence of one Elbridge Gerry , a governor of Massachusetts. As a verb it means to draw up gerrymander districts. Gerrymandering tends to occur after each census which changes the number of Congressional districts in a state. States also need to change their own legislative distrcts from to time to time due to shifts in population and the new districts may be gerrymandered to help the party in power. The idea is to study past voting records and create as many districts as possible with a slight but solid majority for the controling party. It may be necessary to have some "lost" districts to which as many opposing voters as possible are placed.


A paragraph using the words apportion census reapportion and gerrymander?

After taking a census, the government must apportion seats in the legislature based on population. However, some politicians may attempt to gerrymander districts in order to manipulate the reapportionment process for their own advantage. Gerrymandering involves redrawing district boundaries to give one political party an unfair advantage in elections, which undermines the principle of fair representation based on accurate census data.


Why do politicans gerrymander?

Politicians use gerrymandering to draw district lines because it means they can create a district which can become a safer seat for that politicians cause -- whether it be party, race, etc. They do it so they (or their political allies) will have a higher likelihood of winning a seat


Is garrymandering unconstitutional?

No. Gerrymandering is simply drawing political districts to conform with the requirements of population distribution resulting from the census. The name gerrymander is a result of the efforts of Mr. Gerry's attempt to draw the district so as to encompass only those areas he thought would support him. The newly drawn district looked like a salamander, hence gerrymander.