Examine individual changes

'{{Refimprove|article|date=September 2008}} {{elections}} {{about|redistricting in the United States|redistricting in general|Redistribution (election)}} '''Redistricting''' is the process of drawing United States [[electoral district]] boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the [[United States Census|decennial census]].<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.census.gov/rdo/ |title=Redistricting Data main page - U.S. Census Bureau |publisher=www.census.gov |accessdate=2009-08-25}} </ref> In 34 states, the [[State legislature (United States)|state legislature]] has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to approval by the state [[Governor (United States)|governor]]. To reduce the role that legislative politics might play, seven states ([[Arizona]], [[California]], [[Hawaii]], [[Idaho]], [[Montana]], [[New Jersey]] and [[Washington (state)|Washington]]) determine congressional redistricting by an independent or bipartisan [[redistricting commission]].<ref name="NCSL-redistricting">{{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/legislatures-elections/redist/2009-redistricting-commissions-table.aspx |title=2009 Redistricting Commission Table |publisher=[[National Conference of State Legislatures]] (NCSL) |date=June 28, 2008 |accessdate=2013-09-06}}</ref> Three states, [[Florida]], [[Iowa]] and [[Maine]], give independent bodies authority to propose redistricting plans, but preserve the role of legislatures to approve them. Seven states have only a single representative for the entire state because of their low populations; these are [[Alaska]], [[Delaware]], Montana, [[North Dakota]], [[South Dakota]], [[Vermont]] and [[Wyoming]]. State constitutions and laws also mandate which body has responsibility over drawing the state legislature boundaries.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.lib.purdue.edu/govdocs/redistricting.html |title=Government Redistricting Web Sites |publisher=Purdue University Libraries |accessdate=2009-08-25 |last=Blake |first=Aaron }} </ref> In addition, those [[Local government in the United States#Municipal governments|municipal government]]s that are elected on a district basis (as opposed to [[at-large]]) also redistrict. Each state has its own standards for creating Congressional and legislative districts.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/redistricting-looms-over-2010-election-landscape-2009-06-13.html |title=TheHill.com - Redistricting looms over 2010 landscape |publisher=thehill.com |accessdate=2009-08-25 |last= |first= }} </ref> In addition to equalizing the population of districts and complying with Federal requirements, criteria may include attempting to create compact, contiguous districts, trying to keep political units and communities within a single district, and avoiding the drawing of boundaries for purposes of partisan advantage or incumbent protection.<ref>Miller, Jason C.,[http://ssrn.com/abstract=1635614 Community as a Redistricting Principle: Consulting Media Markets in Drawing District Lines] (July 6, 2010). Indiana Law Journal Supplement, Vol. 5, 2010.</ref> In the states where the legislature (or another body where a partisan majority is possible) is in charge of redistricting, the possibility of [[gerrymandering]] (the deliberate manipulation of political boundaries for electoral advantage, usually of [[incumbent]]s or a specific [[political party]]) often makes the process very politically contentious, especially when the majorities of the two houses of the legislature, or the legislature and the governor, are from different parties. The state and federal court systems are often involved in resolving disputes over Congressional and legislative redistricting when gridlock prevents redistricting in a timely manner. In addition, the losers to an adopted redistricting plan often challenge it in state and federal courts. [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] approval (which is known as pre clearance) was formerly required under Section 5 of the [[Voting Rights Act]] of 1965 in certain states that have had a history of racial barriers to voting. Partisan domination of state legislatures and improved technology to design contiguous districts that pack opponents into as few districts as possible have led to district maps which are skewed towards one party. Consequently many states including [[Florida]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[Maryland]], [[Michigan]], [[Pennsylvania]] and [[Texas]] have succeeded in reducing or effectively eliminating competition for most House seats in those states. In 2003 [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] in Texas increased their representation in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House]] through an [[2003 Texas redistricting|exceptional out-of-cycle redistricting that made national news]]. Other states including [[California]], [[New Jersey]] and [[New York]] have opted to protect incumbents of both parties, again reducing the number of competitive districts. The Supreme Court's ruling on the Pennsylvania gerrymander<ref> {{cite web |url=http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/02-1580.ZS.html |title=Vieth v. Jubelirer |publisher=supct.law.cornell.edu |accessdate=2009-08-25 }} </ref> effectively cemented the right of elected officials to select their constituents by eliminating most of the grounds for disenfranchised constituents to challenge gerrymandered lines. ==Public schools== Redistricting is also necessary within (but not among) [[school district]]s, where [[attendance zone]]s have grown (or occasionally shrunk) disproportionately to the [[occupancy]] capacity of each [[public school (government funded)|public school]] in the system. This always occurs when a new school is built or one is closed, but may also occur due to other shifts in population. These districts are necessary not only to balance [[education|enrollment]], but also to coordinate [[school bus]] routes. Separate maps are usually kept for each level: [[elementary school]], [[middle school]], and [[high school]], for example. This is not an inherently political process, however [[parent]]s can become very upset when their [[child]]ren are moved from a school they like (or to one they don't), and occasionally elected [[school board]]s have been forced to change plans after [[protest]]s. Even those without school-age children may take an interest in school redistricting, as it is perceived to affect the [[resale]] [[value (economics)|value]] of a [[home]], and [[real estate]] agents and companies (and "[[for sale by owner]]" listings) often list school attendance districts for each home as a [[marketing|selling point]]. ==Gerrymandering== {{main|Gerrymandering}} Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing district lines to achieve political gain for legislators. The practice of gerrymandering involves the manipulation of district drawing in aims to leave out, or include, specific populations in a legislator's district to ensure his/her reelection. ==See also== * [[Apportionment (politics)|Apportionment]] * [[United States congressional apportionment]] * [[Redistricting commission]] * [[Gerrymandering]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.redistrictinginamerica.org redistrictinginamerica.org] A comprehensive source for information about redistricting in all fifty states from the [http://www.rosereport.org Rose Institute of State and Local Government] *[http://www.caliper.com/News/RedistrictingNews.htm MappingSoftware.com] Maptitude for Redistricting News *[http://clerk.house.gov/art_history/house_history/congApp/ Congressional Apportionment] from the [[Office of the Clerk]] at the [[United States House of Representatives]], including historical representation by state *[http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-7.pdf District sizes and other data from 1900-2000] from the [[United States Census]] *[http://www.lib.purdue.edu/govdocs/redistricting.html Government Redistricting Web Sites] from GovDocs at [[Purdue University]] Libraries, includes list of state websites *[http://www.publicmapping.org/ Public Mapping Project] *[http://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/a_citizens_guide_to_redistricting_2010_edition/ A Citizen's Guide to Redistricting, 2010 Edition], downloadable *[http://aceproject.org/ace-en/topics/bd/bdy/bdy_us Reapportionment and Redistricting in the U.S.] from the [http://www.aceproject.org ACE Project] * Rodriguez, Lori. "[http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1991_805597 Getting point of redistricting]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Saturday August 24, 1991. A25. * [http://www.floridaredistricting.org www.FloridaRedistricting.org] [[Category:Redistricting| ]] * {{cite web |author=Jeffrey B. Lewis et al. |year=2013 |title= Digital Boundary Definitions of United States Congressional Districts, 1789-2012 |url= http://cdmaps.polisci.ucla.edu |publisher=University of California, Los Angeles }}'