Gerrymandering in America: The House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, and the Future of Popular Sovereignty

This book considers the political and constitutional consequences of Vieth v. Jubelirer (2004), where the Supreme Court held that partisan gerrymandering challenges could no longer be adjudicated by the courts. Through a rigorous scientific analysis of US House district maps, the authors argue that partisan bias increased dramatically in the 2010 redistricting round after the Vieth decision, both at the national and state level. From a constitutional perspective, unrestrained partisan gerrymandering poses a critical threat to a central pillar of American democracy, popular sovereignty. State legislatures now effectively determine the political composition of the US House. The book answers the Court's challenge to find a new standard for gerrymandering that is both constitutionally grounded and legally manageable. It argues that the scientifically rigorous partisan symmetry measure is an appropriate legal standard for partisan gerrymandering, as it logically implies the constitutional right to individual equality and can be practically applied.

Author: Anthony J. McGann, Charles Anthony Smith, Michael Latner
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 07/11/2017
Pages: 272
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 8.90h x 5.90w x 0.70d
ISBN13: 9781316507674
ISBN10: 131650767X
BISAC Categories:
- Political Science | Political Process | Campaigns & Elections
- Law | Election Law
- Political Science | Political Process | Political Parties