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Simple English definitions for legal terms

gerrymander

Read a random definition: constitutiones principum

A quick definition of gerrymander:

Definition: Gerrymandering is when people draw the lines for voting areas in a way that helps one group win more votes than another. They might make the lines look really weird or strange to do this. It's not fair and some people think it's wrong. The word "gerrymander" comes from a funny picture in a newspaper a long time ago. Sometimes, it's against the law to do this if it's based on race, but it's hard to stop it from happening in other ways.

A more thorough explanation:

Gerrymandering is when political or electoral districts are drawn in a way that gives one political group an advantage over another. This is often done by creating districts with strange or unusual shapes. The term "gerrymander" comes from a political cartoon published in 1813.

For example, imagine a state with 60% of voters who support Party A and 40% who support Party B. If the districts are drawn in a way that splits up the Party A voters into many different districts, while keeping the Party B voters together in a few districts, then Party B could end up winning more seats in the legislature, even though they have fewer overall voters.

Gerrymandering is controversial because it can be used to manipulate election outcomes and goes against the principles of democracy. In some cases, it can even be illegal. For example, if districts are drawn based on race, that violates the Voting Rights Act and is therefore illegal.

Overall, gerrymandering is a way for politicians to try to gain an unfair advantage in elections by manipulating the way districts are drawn.

Georgia Case-Law | Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

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BulbasaurNoLikeCardio
15:30
@babycat: what makes you say that?
15:31
sorry i already asked this and forgot to check but how much does a masters degree help for admissions? i rly want to go to northwestern or uchicago but im worried about my stats
glovediedthisishismom
15:32
some of you be so focused on the cheese you forgot about the trap
BulbasaurNoLikeCardio
15:32
I have not talked to northwestern or uchicago but the schools I did talked to said graduates are nice but they cant be hard stats to compare to others as not everyone has one
babycat
15:34
@BulbasaurNoLikeCardio: they really like non traditional applicants and older students
babycat
15:35
there are plenty of non trads who get admitted to nw with below median stats bc of their stories
snow
15:37
i want NW bad
JumpySubsequentDolphin
15:37
@glovediedthisishismom: im gonna get this tattooed
snow
15:38
hoping my 3 years of legal experience help!
BulbasaurNoLikeCardio
15:38
Im not that old lmao Ill see if I can convince the wife to allow me to apply and research the area more. Just worried that I wont have that intellect that a rank 9 school would need
snow
15:38
shoot your shot bulb
snow
15:38
dont tell yourself that.
BulbasaurNoLikeCardio
15:40
I think babycat just wants me close for when she gets into Uchicago lol For me the locations of the school and environment around it matters a lot
soap
15:42
Are you in an open marriage?
babycat
15:42
@BulbasaurNoLikeCardio: aw of course I want you around but I was thinking of the 7sage diversity statement in their admissions course where this guy writes about how he and his wife take in foster kids. he got into NW with below median LSAT. you have significant past adversity and interesting work experience I would shoot your shot
babycat
15:43
and I honestly don't think the t14 require significantly more intellect than any other law school. the content is pretty much the same
15:44
the rigor of the T14 law schools is almost entirely the result of who they allow to attend
BulbasaurNoLikeCardio
15:44
Well so far Vandy is highest ranked I went for, hopefully they like me. Its not really the academics/rigor. Following rules and meeting standard is easy it is the competition for class rank and with other students that I think would be my greatest struggle
JumpySubsequentDolphin
15:45
but doesn’t grade inflation at the top schools almost make it easier to get higher grades than it does at >t14
babycat
15:45
@info-man: agreed
babycat
15:48
just my opinion but grade inflation is probably more of an undergrad thing since law school grades tend to be on a curve
shaquilleoatmeal
15:49
Leaving the office just now and this chic is blasting glorilla in the elevator...doesn't match our work location vibe lmao
shaquilleoatmeal
15:49
shits gonna be stuck in my head all night now
glovediedthisishismom
15:50
northwestern has a dude with a murder charge in their class this year dont they
shaquilleoatmeal
15:50
what^^
shaquilleoatmeal
15:50
no way
HopefullyInLawSchool
15:50
2 next year
glovediedthisishismom
15:50
google it shaq some dude got his degree in prison and is now at nw
HopefullyInLawSchool
15:50
Bro is studying to beat the charges
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