Question

Gerrymandering refers to

a. the resources that elected officials use to reward their supporters.
b. the investigations of the executive branch that Congress frequently engages in.
c. the tactic used by members of the Senate to prevent action on legislation they oppose by continuously holding the floor and speaking until the majority backs down.
d. the manipulation of electoral districts to serve the interests of a particular group.
e. the practice whereby legislators trade their support or opposition on one bill to get the support of another legislator on a different bill.

Answer 1

Gerrymandering is the practice of d. manipulating electoral district boundaries to benefit a specific political group and is often criticized for creating a partisan advantage that undermines democratic principles.

Step-by-step explanation:

Gerrymandering refers to the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to serve the interests of a particular group. This practice can result in the creation of districts with highly irregular shapes designed to increase the political power of the party in control of the redistricting process. The term gerrymandering is a combination of the word 'salamander' and the name of Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry, who in 1812, signed into law a redistricting plan that benefitted his party and was highlighted by districts with oddly drawn shapes.

With advancements in technology, the process of gerrymandering has become more sophisticated and strategic, with parties using data analysis to orchestrate their plans. This leads to 'safe seats,' where the outcome is heavily skewed toward one party, reducing the importance of the opposing voters' influence. Furthermore, gerrymandering is criticized for creating extreme partisanship because elected officials in safe districts are not incentivized to consider diverse viewpoints or compromise.

Gerrymandering can be challenged under laws such as the Voting Rights Act when it appears to dilute the votes of racial minorities, though other forms of gerrymandering may still be legally permissible.