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Simple English definitions for legal terms

gerrymandering

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A quick definition of gerrymandering:

Gerrymandering is when politicians draw the lines of voting districts in a way that gives their political party an unfair advantage. They might make the districts really weird shapes to include or exclude certain groups of voters. This is not fair because it makes it harder for everyone's vote to count equally. The word "gerrymandering" comes from a politician named Elbridge Gerry who did this in Massachusetts in 1812.

A more thorough explanation:

Gerrymandering is when a political party tries to gain an unfair advantage by dividing a geographical area into voting districts of irregular shapes. This is done to weaken the voting strength of the opposition party.

For example, in 1812, members of the Anti-Federalist party in Massachusetts changed the state's voting districts to benefit their party. They created a district that looked like a salamander, which inspired a critic to come up with the term "gerrymandering" by combining the governor's name, Gerry, with the ending of salamander. This practice is unfair because it manipulates the voting system to favor one party over another.

Gerrymandering can also happen in other areas, such as school districts, where a group may try to gain an advantage by dividing the area in a way that benefits them. This is called jurisdictional gerrymandering.

There are different types of gerrymandering, such as delineational gerrymandering, which involves varying the shape of the districts, and institutional gerrymandering, which involves varying the number of representatives per district.

Overall, gerrymandering is a controversial practice that undermines the fairness of the democratic process.

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HopefullyInLawSchool
16:06
it means you will not be rejected today and may be accepted or WL in the future
Just got my Michigan rejection
BookwormBroker
16:10
same
RoaldDahl
16:10
@HopefullyInLawSchool: what if i already got rejected. does it mean anything
HopefullyInLawSchool
16:12
@RoaldDahl: Likely not however it could mean nothing
RoaldDahl
16:15
So if it means nothing does that mean something?
HopefullyInLawSchool
16:17
Possibly
RoaldDahl
16:26
Cool
RoaldDahl
16:26
thank you!!!! i hope it means something
pinkandblue
16:31
fart
IrishDinosaur
16:36
Mich R gang lesgooo
Did anyone else get that random get to know nova email?
HopefullyInLawSchool
17:21
Ya it was sent to all YM applicants
starfishies
17:37
Anyone get the NDLS email inviting you to apply for something even though they haven’t made a decision on your app yet
17:38
Better yet I got the email and I was rejected last month
starfishies
17:38
Wtf
starfishies
17:39
and the deadline is in like a week what is this
any cardozo movement?
BatmanBeyond
18:01
Sent a LOCI via portal, but I'm wondering if email would have gotten me a swifter response
BatmanBeyond
18:02
This whole hold/wait-list/reserve system is a headache
loci already?
BatmanBeyond
18:09
If the odds are like 1-2% I don't think it matters much by the numbers
12:11
I got the same NDLS email
OrangeThing
12:18
I think the user profiles are broken
19:29
Any word out of Notre Dame?
19:29
Only the invitation to apply for LSE
19:29
Anyone received a decision from NDLS?
19:50
when did u guys apply that just heard from umich? they havent even glanced at my app yet
0:30
how am i supposed to spy on people when profile links are broken?
Right. Broken links smh
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