Understanding Gerrymandering
This worksheet introduces sixth-grade students to the concept of gerrymandering, its purpose, and its impact on elections and representation.
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Understanding Gerrymandering
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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Some questions may require you to think critically about how elections work.
1. is the practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to give one political party an unfair advantage over another.
2. The two main techniques used in gerrymandering are and .
3. The term 'gerrymandering' originated in 1812, combining the name of Governor Elbridge Gerry with the shape of an electoral district that resembled a .
4. What is the primary goal of gerrymandering?
To create fair and balanced electoral districts
To ensure equal representation for all voters
To give one political party an electoral advantage
To make voting easier for citizens
5. Gerrymandering always leads to more competitive elections.
True
False
6. Explain in your own words what 'cracking' means in the context of gerrymandering.
7. How can gerrymandering affect the voice of voters in an election?
Look at the simplified map below, which shows a state divided into three electoral districts. Imagine the blue dots represent voters for Party A and the red dots represent voters for Party B. The goal is to elect 3 representatives.
8. Based on the map, which party is likely to win more representatives? Explain why.
9. Would you consider this map to be gerrymandered? Why or why not?