Is it Jerry-Mandering or Gary-Mandering?

Civics on the Rocks

You’ve heard the term before, but did you realize how bad the situation really is? Buckle up, kids, this is a bumpy one.

References

Well?

Steve is archaically correct. According to Merriam-Webster gerrymandering was originally pronounced with a hard g, but it now most commonly pronounced with a soft one.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gerrymandering

Who was Elbridge Gerry?

Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. “Gov. Elbridge Gerry.” Original source: 1978. National Governors Association. https://www.nga.org/governor/elbridge-gerry/

Want to see the “Gerry-Mander” cartoon from 1813 that coined the term?

Smithsonian. “Cartoon, ‘The Gerry-Mander’, 1813.” https://www.si.edu/object/cartoon-gerry-mander-1813%3Anmah_509530

Want to see what a salamander looks like in both medieval heraldry (or whatever) and real life?

Marcec, Ruth. “Amphibian Conversation: Fired Up About Salamanders.” April 18, 2017. Detroit Zoo. https://detroitzooblog.org/2017/04/18/amphibian-conservation-fired-up-about-salamanders/

Learn about cracking, packing, and other terms involved with redistricting:

Panjwani, Haya. “Cracking, Packing, Apportionment: Here’s A Glossary of Terms to Help You Understand Redistricting.” September 21, 2021. KERA News. https://www.keranews.org/politics/2021-09-21/cracking-packing-apportionment-heres-a-glossary-of-terms-to-help-you-understand-redistricting

If you want to see the current map of the Texas senate district that Mack mentioned:

The Texas Tribune. “Texas Senate District 25.” https://www.texastribune.org/directory/districts/tx-senate/25/

Yep, we’re pronouncing Bexar as Bear. Texas, y’all.

Learn about constitutional amendments that involve voting:

USA.gov. “Voting Rights Laws and Constitutional Amendments.” Updated: February 22, 2024. https://www.usa.gov/voting-rights

Learn about women’s suffrage in the state of Wyoming:

Wyoming Historical Society. “Women’s Suffrage and Women’s Rights.” https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/topics/womens-suffrage-and-womens-rights

What’s going on with Nebraska?

Nebraska.gov. “Nebraska Unicameral.” https://designegov.nebraska.gov/government/legislative/

Alexander v. South Carolina NAACP (May 2024):

Oyez. “Alexander v. South Carolina Conference of the NAACP.” https://www.oyez.org/cases/2023/22-807

Shaw v. Reno (1993):

Oyez. “Shaw v. Reno.” https://www.oyez.org/cases/1992/92-357

Learn about the bunch of marches in the 60s that were about voting:

United States Civil Rights Trail. “Marching for the Vote.” https://civilrightstrail.com/experience/marching-for-the-right-to-vote/

If you would like to read Justice Kagan’s dissent:

Legal Information Institute. “Alexandar v. South Carolina State Conference of the NACCP.” Cornell Law School. https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/22-807

Learn about gerrymandering of incarcerated peoples:

Fisher, Garret, King, Taylor, and Limón, Gariella. “Prison Gerrymandering Undermines Our Democracy.” October 22, 2021. Brennan Center for Justice. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/prison-gerrymandering-undermines-our-democracy

Learn about the implications of counting persons under the age of 18 during redistricting:

Stephanopoulos, Nicholas, and Chen, Jowei. “Democracy’s Denominator.” February 4, 2021. California Law Review (1011). https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3779342

Learn about the implications of gerrymandering around universities and colleges:

Carrasco, Maria. “Partisan Gerrymandering Targets Campuses.” October 21, 2021. Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/10/22/partisan-gerrymandering-targets-college-campuses

If you don’t remember the three-fifths compromise from history class:

Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Three-fifths compromise.” April 19, 2024. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/three-fifths-compromise

If you feel so inclined to read Kevin Williamson’s argument for “better” voters:

Williamson, Kevin D. “Why Not Fewer Voters?” April 6, 2021. National Review. https://nationalreview.com/2021/04/why-not-fewer-voters/

If you didn’t get the Daft Punk joke:

https://youtu.be/gAjR4_CbPpQ?si=DBrfQyt10gZYLcGW

Not sure how you feel about felons voting:

ProCon.org. “History of Felon Voting.” June 29, 2023. https://felonvoting.procon.org/

Learn about felons voting in Florida:

Brennan Center for Justice. “Voting Rights Restoration Efforts in Florida.” Updated: August 7, 2023. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-rights-restoration-efforts-florida

In case you forgot, Donald Trump is a convicted felon:

Becket, Stefan. “What Was Trump Convicted Of? Details on the 34 Counts and His Guilty Verdict.” June 3, 2024. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-charges-conviction-guilty-verdict/

What’s GIS?

Geographic Information System

Colegrove v. Green (1946):

Oyez. “Colegrove v. Green.” https://www.oyez.org/cases/1940-1955/328us549

Baker v. Carr (1962):

Oyez. “Baker v. Carr.” https://www.oyez.org/cases/1960/6

Reynolds v. Sims (1964):

Oyez. “Reynolds v. Sims.” https://www.oyez.org/cases/1963/23

Get to know the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929:

History, Art, & Archives. “The Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929.” United States House of Representatives. https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1901-1950/The-Permanent-Apportionment-Act-of-1929/

The Texas Monthly article that tells you how to make a Chilton:

Bond, Courtney. “The Chilton.” May 2016. Texas Monthly. https://www.texasmonthly.com/recipe/the-chilton-cocktail-recipe

In case you know not of Topo Chico:

Castle, Sheri. “Topo Chico is the Fizzy Water With a Loyal Fan Base.” April 26, 2024. Southern Living. https://www.southernliving.com/food/drinks/topo-chico-mineral-water

How to make a Gimlet:

https://www.liquor.com/recipes/gimlet/

If you want to learn how Raymond Chandler said to make a Gimlet:

Raymond Chandler. The Long Goodbye. (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard, Reprinted: 1988).

Giant caves people take tourist trips through:

Travel Texas. “Caves & Caverns.” https://www.traveltexas.com/things-to-do/outdoor-adventure/caves-caverns/

Is it stalactite or stalagmite?

NOAA Ocean Exploration. “What is the Difference Between a Stalactite and a Stalagmite?” https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/facts/stalactite.html

How close are we to fusion power?

Sutter, Paul. “We’ve been ‘close’ to achieving fusion power for 50 years. When will it actually happen?” January 14, 2024. Space.com. https://www.space.com/when-will-we-achieve-fusion-power

In case you hadn’t heard of the term sealioning either:

Merriam-Webster. “What is ‘Sealioning’?” https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/sealioning-internet-trolling

And “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” is a quote from Mahatma Gandhi. But you already knew that.