Teaching redistricting: Letting the people draw the lines for the people's house

Authors

Robert G. Boatright, Clark UniversityFollow
Nicholas M. Giner, Clark University
James R. Gomes, Clark University

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The 2012 congressional redistricting was the first for which census data and mapmaking software were available to and easily useable by undergraduate students. We discuss our experience teaching the redistricting process to undergraduates and having our students draw constitutionally and statutorily valid congressional districts for Massachusetts. Bringing students into the process is a valuable teaching tool, and it also provides unbiased redistricting scenarios to state legislators and makes the redistricting process more open and transparent. Perhaps contrary to the fears of some legislators, our students placed substantial value on incumbency and the preservation of existing district lines, along with a respect for the traditional redistricting concerns of communities of interest and compactness. © 2013 American Political Science Association.

Publication Title

PS - Political Science and Politics

Publication Date

4-2013

Volume

46

Issue

2

First Page

387

Last Page

394

ISSN

1049-0965

DOI

10.1017/S1049096513000103

Keywords

2012 congressional redistricting, redistricting

Repository Citation

Boatright, Robert G.; Giner, Nicholas M.; and Gomes, James R., "Teaching redistricting: Letting the people draw the lines for the people's house" (2013). Political Science. 53.
https://commons.clarku.edu/faculty_political_science/53