Internal Boundaries (College Board AP® Human Geography)
Study Guide
Written by: Kristin Tassin
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Nature of Internal Boundaries
Internal boundaries divide countries into smaller political units
Internal boundaries can be adjusted by the state, local, or national government
In the United States, internal boundaries are used in elections and voting
Voting districts
Voting districts are defined geographical areas that determine the location of voters and which representatives they are eligible to vote for
Reapportionment refers to the process by which the number of national representatives assigned to each state is changed as a result of the census
Redistricting occurs when district boundaries are redrawn by state governments, usually due to changes in population
Gerrymandering
Gerrymandering refers to the drawing of political districts to favor one political party over another
Gerrymandering can be used to guarantee wins for a certain political party in particular districts
Gerrymandering can be accomplished by either cracking or packing
Cracking refers to the process of dispersing the opposing party into multiple districts to prevent a majority in any one district
Packing refers to the process by which one party’s voters are concentrated in one district to dilute their influence
Gerrymandering can affect elections at different scales
In local and state elections, gerrymandered districts can ensure that a political party remains in power even when public opinion has shifted
It does this by creating safe seats for members of their party
Gerrymandered districts can ensure, through packing and cracking, that a political party is elected to most seats even if the majority of the public does not support the party
Once this happens, the winning party will have the majority vote in state houses and can enact policy, even if the majority of the public disagrees with them
At the national scale, gerrymandering also creates safe seats
These safe districts may mean that the majority party in Congress did not receive the most votes
The presence of safe seats discourages others from running, as they assume they will lose
Gerrymandering may create extremely partisan districts, increasing polarization in Congress
Worked Example
Answer each part of the question below:
A. Define gerrymandering
Answer
Gerrymandering is the redrawing of district boundaries to favor one political party over another.
B. Explain the relationship between the census, redistricting, and gerrymandering
Answer
The U.S. Constitution requires a census, or counting of the population, every ten years. The census results are used to reapportion the number of seats in the House of Representatives among the states, based on population. Constitutional district boundaries can then be redrawn, resulting in redistricting. Gerrymandering is used to redraw those districts to be most advantageous to one political party.
C. Identify and discuss ONE political and ONE social consequence of redistricting
Answer
Political consequences include:
Redistricting is often used to favor one political party over another. This will change the party makeup of Congress.
Individual political candidates may be given an advantage or disadvantage because of their party affiliation.
It may lower voter participation because people will be less likely to vote in a gerrymandered district, as they feel their votes don’t matter.
It may give an advantage or disadvantage to a particular demographic or voter bloc, which will then have more or less influence in politics.
Social consequences include:
Redistricting may result in a loss of the sense of community or create greater centrifugal pressures, particularly if districts are broken up or communities separated.
It may create a disconnect between voters and their representative.
D. Explain ONE way gerrymandering could be used to increase political power for minority populations
Answer
It may create a minority-majority district, which favors a minority ethnic group by maximizing the number of people from that group in the district, giving them increased political power.
E. Explain ONE way gerrymandering could be used to decrease political power for minority populations
Answer
If district lines are drawn to dilute the minority group’s population over multiple districts, their political power would decrease. In addition, redistricting may decrease access to voting because of the location of the new district boundaries. Decreased voting access disproportionately harms minority voters.
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