Redistricting: The Most Political Activity in America

This book will prepare readers for the redistricting of congressional, state legislative, and local collegial bodies that will follow the 2010 Census. Almost every state legislature will devote extensive time to redrawing its own districts along with the state's congressional districts during 2011-2012. Chapters 2 through 5 cover the major factors involved in drawing the new maps. These are arranged in the order of their legal prominence beginning with the need for equal populations before moving to the obligation to avoid discriminating against minorities. Chapter 4 examines the other elements weighed by those redrawing districts: compactness, respect for political boundaries and communities of interest. Chapter 5 deals with partisan considerations and consequences of redistricting. More than any other state, Georgia has probably been the locale for more precedent-setting cases and had more difficulty securing Department of Justice approval of its districting plans. Chapter 6 uses Georgia as a case study to demonstrate the application of a number of concepts discussed in the preceding four chapters. The seventh chapter provides a preview of the post-2010 redistricting with a discussion of projections of likely congressional reapportionment. The final chapter also considers how the changes in the Voting Rights Act adopted in 2006 may affect the next round of redistricting. Read more