Redistricting

Question 1

Consequences of silent gerrymandering

Answer 1

not doing anything because people are moving around

Question 2

Baker v Carr

Answer 2

A Tennessee case in which redistricting had not occurred with the changing population in urban/rural areas.
-Created the “One person, one vote” precedent and took down county unit system and rural counties benefitted

Question 3

Reynolds v Sims

Answer 3

Alabama case in which Jefferson county had a disproportionate amount of eligible voters to other counties
- in bicameral state legislatures, it should be apportioned based on population

Question 4

Wesberry v Sanders

Answer 4

Georgia case in which the court ruled that requires each state to draw its U.S. Congressional districts so that they are approximately equal in population.

Question 5

Consequences of initial redistricting

Answer 5

• Personnel changes: more diversity, more Republicans, more urban, better educated
• Policy changes – different winners and losers in terms of public policy and expenditures

Question 6

Partisan consequences of redistricting

Answer 6

• Enhanced opportunities for minorities and Republicans in urban areas

Question 7

who were first black legislators in modern times after redistricting

Answer 7

GA senate 1963: Leroy Johnson
House 1966: Julian Bond & 6 others

Question 8

US v georgia (1973)

Answer 8

Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act applies and the submitting jurisdiction has the burden of proof
* Section 5 – non-retrogression standard

Question 9

What years were there black GOP coalitions

Answer 9

1982 & 1992

Question 10

Section 2 incorporation into Section 5 at the behest of the Bush DOJ.

Answer 10

1990

Question 11

Racial gerrymandering

Answer 11

 Bleached districts became more winnable by Republicans
 Separated a number of Democratic incumbents from their bases without sufficient time to recover before the 1994 Wave election

Question 12

Shaw v Reno

Answer 12

North Carolina submitted a redistricting map and had only 1 majority black district and was advised to make another one. An oddly shaped district was made which was claimed to be racial gerrymandering
-established that redistricting must be strictly scrutinized and that race CANNOT be the main reason for redrawing lines

Question 13

Miller v Johnson

Answer 13

Georgia case in which Black population was entitled to seconds black district, but the new district stretched form Atlanta to the ocean
-using shaw v reno, race cannot separate/ create districts

Question 14

Bush v Vera

Answer 14

Texas case in which drawn districts were found to be unconstitutional as they were based off gender and made it difficult for minorities to elect someone of their own choice

Question 15

2002 racial consequences

Answer 15

 Black caucuses decline to work with GOP
 Democrats struggle to hold on to majorities in GA

Question 16

Larios v Cox

Answer 16

georgia case in which 2001 & 2002 redistricting violated one man one vote and underpopulated rural areas in comparison to suburban areas

Question 17

2011 racial consequences

Answer 17

Republicans draw districts
 GA: Maximize districts black majority in registration.
 FL constitutional amendment prohibiting the drawing of districts to benefit an individual or party and, to the extent possible, adhering to existing political boundaries.
 Litigation in AL, NC and VA alleged packing of blacks results in new districts

Question 17

2011 racial consequences

Answer 17

Republicans draw districts
 GA: Maximize districts black majority in registration.
 FL constitutional amendment prohibiting the drawing of districts to benefit an individual or party and, to the extent possible, adhering to existing political boundaries.
 Litigation in AL, NC and VA alleged packing of blacks results in new districts

Question 18

Alabama Partisan gerrymandering effects

Answer 18

• An AL federal court ruled under Section 2 that the state needed to draw a 2nd majority Black congressional district
• Supreme Court delays ruling on appeal from AL case until the current term
• If Supreme Court upholds the AL decision, several southern states, probably including GA, will have to redraw district which will advantage Democrats

Question 19

Why doesn’t GOP want redrawing?

Answer 19

• Fairer maps could cost GOP numerous seats in the South – in Congress and dozens of state legislative seats.

Question 20

Gerrymandering in the courts?

Answer 20

• 2019: Supreme Court rules 5 – 4 that claims of partisan districting raise a political question and therefore no relief is available in federal courts
• State courts in NC and PA have found that partisan plans violate the state constitution.

Question 21

GEORGIA GOP SHARES OF VOTES AND SEATS

Answer 21

Senate House
Vote Seats Votes Seats
1992 40% 27% ? 29%
1994 45 38 ? 37

Both Chambers Redistricted

1996 52 39 51 41
1998 51 39 53 43
2000 55 43 52 42

Both Chambers Redistricted

2002 55 46 52 41
2004 57 61 57 53
2006 67 61 59 59

 

Question 22

Changing black perspective on redistricting 1981

Answer 22

Seeking 65% black population

Question 23

Changing black perspective on redistricting 1991

Answer 23

Seeking to maximize the number of heavily black districts

Question 24

Changing black perspective on redistricting 1981-1992

Answer 24

working with the GOP to achieve goals

Question 25

Changing black perspective on redistricting 2001

Answer 25

Working with white Democrats to maintain Democratic majorities and willing to reduce black concentrations to just above 50%

Question 26

Changing black perspective on redistricting post 2012

Answer 26

Challenging GOP plans that pack minorities in districts. Seeking districts slightly less than majority black and counting on enough white votes to elect African Americans