The realities of redistricting : following the rules and limiting gerrymandering in state legislative redistricting

"Allowing legislators to pick the voters that make up their districts is a fundamental conflict of interest and central concern for the popular sovereignty of American elections. In The Realities of Redistricting, Jonathan Winburn examines the extent of this potential problem by focusing on both the incentives and the constraints facing state legislators during the redistricting process." "Most research on redistricting tends to examine only the outcomes produced in terms of partisan gains or losses; however, we know much less about what constrains political mapmakers during the process. We know even less about whether constraints built into the process are enough to limit the partisan manipulation of both district boundaries and electoral outcomes. From the beginning stages of redistricting to the resulting outcomes on election day, this book analyzes the constraints and incentives that state legislators face." "By examining the entire process, this book investigates who holds the power in the process and improves our understanding of the conditions under which redrawing district boundaries have a significant influence on partisan politics throughout the country. Specifically, reformers, who generally argue for commissions, may find that focusing on the rules rather than the actors is a better path to improving the process. The Realities of Redistricting is an interesting and informative read for anyone concerned with one of the most contentious processes in the American system."--BOOK JACKET Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Ch01. Introduction: Redistricting and Democratic Concerns......Page 12 Ch02. An Incentive and Constraint Approach to Understanding Redistricting......Page 22 Ch03. Unified Legislative Control......Page 76 Ch04. Divided Legislative Control......Page 110 Ch05. Partisan Commission Control......Page 144 Ch06. Bipartisan Commission Control......Page 178 Ch07. Conclusion......Page 208 Appendix 1: Measuring Gerrymandering......Page 226 Appendix 2: Political Subdivisions and Split Counties......Page 238 Appendix 3: Election Day Outcomes......Page 240 Selected Bibliography......Page 246 Index......Page 252 About the Author......Page 258 Introduction : redistricting and democratic concerns An incentive and constraint approach to understanding redistricting Unified legislative control : Georgia and Michigan Divided legislative control : Indiana and Kentucky Partisan commission control : Texas and Ohio Bipartisan commission control : Washington and Idaho Conclusion : making the case for redistricting reform. This book tests the effectiveness of political control and neutral rules on limiting partisan gerrymandering in state legislative redistricting. Specifically, the book examines the 2000 redistricting process in eight states_Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, and Washington.