Understanding Legislative Redistricting

What is the definition of redistricting?

• The process of allocating seats in the House of Representatives among the states.

• The process of drawing electoral district boundaries.

• The process of conducting a national population count.

• The manipulation of electoral district boundaries for political advantage.

What does apportionment refer to in the context of legislative redistricting?

• The drawing of district boundaries.

• The allocation of seats in a legislative body among different regions.

• The manipulation of district boundaries for political gain.

• The counting of the population every ten years.

What is the primary purpose of the decennial census?

• To redraw district boundaries.

• To allocate federal funds to states.

• To count the population for apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives.

• To determine the number of electoral votes for each state.

How is gerrymandering defined?

• The fair distribution of seats in a legislative body.

• The process of drawing district boundaries based on population.

• The manipulation of electoral district boundaries for political advantage.

• The legal requirement to have equal population in each district.

Is racial gerrymandering legal in the United States?

• Yes, it is fully legal.

• No, it is illegal under the Voting Rights Act.

• It is legal only if it benefits minority groups.

• It is legal if approved by the Supreme Court.

What was an important outcome of the Baker v. Carr case?

• It established the legality of racial gerrymandering.

• It ruled that redistricting issues present justiciable questions, enabling federal courts to intervene.

• It mandated that all districts must have the same number of voters.

• It allowed states to draw district boundaries without federal oversight.

Who is typically responsible for drawing legislative districts?

• The President of the United States.

• The Supreme Court.

• State legislatures or independent commissions.

• The Census Bureau.

What is the significance of the "One Person, One Vote" principle in legislative redistricting?

• It ensures that each state has the same number of representatives.

• It requires that each district has roughly equal population, ensuring equal representation.

• It mandates that each person can only vote once in an election.

• It allows for the creation of districts based on geographic features.