Gerrymandering: Shaping Districts
Explore the concept of gerrymandering, its impact on elections, and its historical context in this 7th-grade social studies worksheet.
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Gerrymandering: Shaping Districts
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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Some questions may require critical thinking about how political districts are drawn.
1. What is the primary purpose of gerrymandering?
To create fair and balanced districts.
To give one political party an unfair advantage.
To ensure all districts have the same number of voters.
To allow independent voters to have more power.
2. Which of the following is a common technique used in gerrymandering?
Drawing districts with regular, geometric shapes.
Packing opposing party voters into a few districts.
Ensuring districts are geographically compact.
Using a non-partisan commission to draw lines.
3. The term "gerrymandering" was coined in 1812, combining the name of Governor Elbridge Gerry with the shape of a salamander-like electoral .
4. Gerrymandering can lead to a lack of in government, as elected officials may feel less accountable to voters.
5. Explain in your own words what gerrymandering is and why it is considered controversial.
6. Gerrymandering is illegal in all countries around the world.
True
False
7. The goal of gerrymandering is to make elections more competitive.
True
False
Match the term with its definition.
8. Redistricting
a. Drawing electoral district boundaries to favor one party.
9. Gerrymander
b. The process of redrawing electoral districts.
10. Cracking
c. Spreading voters of the opposing party across many districts.