Three judges of a federal court held Monday, August 27, that congressional district lines in North Carolina had been gerrymandered in favor of Republicans, which may affect control of the House in the midterms if the lines are not redrawn before then. The Supreme Court traditionally does not uphold any ruling that can have an impact on the election just before votes are in place, and consequently, the lines may have to stay in place until then.
Partisan gerrymandering has been a tactic long before the term was coined and even before today's political parties had been formed. One example took place in 1789 during the election of the First United States Congress. The Anti-Federalists drew the lines of Virginia's 5th district in an attempt to keep James Madison out of Congress, which, contrary to their endeavors, was unsuccessful.
Gerrymandering probably occurs far more often than we expect, judging by its relative subtlety and statements given by Judge James A. Wynn, Jr. of the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals that North Carolina's unconstitutional district lines have been in place for six years. This is consequent of the general population's ignorance of gerrymandering because the lines are not redrawn unless the issue is brought in front of a judge. Education is indispensable when it comes to the changing of a country, and therefore is of utmost significance in ridding the country of unfair congressional district lines.
Partisan gerrymandering has been a tactic long before the term was coined and even before today's political parties had been formed. One example took place in 1789 during the election of the First United States Congress. The Anti-Federalists drew the lines of Virginia's 5th district in an attempt to keep James Madison out of Congress, which, contrary to their endeavors, was unsuccessful.
Gerrymandering probably occurs far more often than we expect, judging by its relative subtlety and statements given by Judge James A. Wynn, Jr. of the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals that North Carolina's unconstitutional district lines have been in place for six years. This is consequent of the general population's ignorance of gerrymandering because the lines are not redrawn unless the issue is brought in front of a judge. Education is indispensable when it comes to the changing of a country, and therefore is of utmost significance in ridding the country of unfair congressional district lines.
Link to Washington Post article by Robert Barnes, Reporter:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/2018/08/27/fc04e066-aa46-11e8-b1da-ff7faa680710_story.html?utm_term=.156b224246c6
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/2018/08/27/fc04e066-aa46-11e8-b1da-ff7faa680710_story.html?utm_term=.156b224246c6
I agree with you Youssef, and your statement that we must be educated to be able to change the country. I think that educating everyone - young and old is imperative in the plight to stop gerrymandering in the United States. This article was well thought out and straight to the point of gerrymandering in our political society.
ReplyDeleteI've been under the impression that partisan gerrymandering, in many states, isn't strictly illegal, only gerrymandering that targets more specific cultural groups & ethnicities. It makes me wonder why this case specifically caused dispute while many stay unknown. I definitely do agree with Youssef on the importance of staying educated on these topics, and I'm glad cases like these come up because I think gerrymandering is a threat to democracy.
ReplyDelete