Redistricting

Encyclopedia : R : RE : RED : Redistricting

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The process known as redistricting in the United States and redistribution in many Commonwealth countries is the changing of political borders. Often this means changing electoral district and constituency boundaries, usually in response to periodic census results. This takes place by law or constitution at least every decade in most representative democracy systems to prevent geographic malapportionment.

South Africa

In South Africa, redistricting is carried out by the Municipal Demarcation Board.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, four Boundary Commissions (one each for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) are responsible for reviewing the boundaries of Parliamentary constituencies, within guidelines set by Parliament.

United States

In 6 states (Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Jersey and Washington), congressional redistricting is performed by an independent, bipartisan commission. In the remaining 44 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, subject to approval by the state governor. The state constitutions and laws also mandate which body has responsibility over drawing the state legislature boundaries. In addition, those municipal governments that are elected on a district basis (as opposed to at-large) also redistrict.

Each state has its own standards for creating Congressional and legislative districts. In the states where the legislature (or another body where a partisian majority is possible such as IL, OH, TX) is in charge of redistricting, the possibility of gerrymandering (the deliberate manipulation of political boundaries for electoral advantage, usually of incumbents or a specific political party) often makes the process very politically contentious, especially when the two houses of the legislature, or the legislature and the governor, are from different parties. The state and federal court systems are often involved in resolving disputes over Congressional and legislative redistricting when gridlock prevents redistricting in a timely manner. In addition, the losers to an adopted redistricting plan often challenge it in state and federal courts. Justice Department approval (which is known as preclearence) is required in many states that have had a history of racial gerrymandering.

See also

• Apportionment
• United States Congressional apportionment
• Brett Buerck
• Gerrymandering

External links

• [Reapportionment and Redistricting in the U.S.] - from the [ACE Project]
• [U.S. House of Representatives — District Sizes 1790 to 2000]
• [Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission]
• [State redistricting links] - list of links to state redistricting websites
• [State by state breakdown of redistricting methods]

 

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