Final answer:
Gerrymandering is a practice by which the political party in power manipulates district boundaries to maintain or extend its influence, using tactics like 'cracking' and creating 'safe seats'. It is a contentious issue within the U.S. political system, regulated to some extent by legislation like the Voting Rights Act.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of gerrymandering used when a particular party is in power is a method of redrawing district lines to ensure political advantage. This manipulation can take many forms, but commonly it will be to secure a majority for the ruling party by distributing voters in such a way that the opposition's influence is diminished. This includes tactics like 'cracking', dividing opposition amongst several districts, or creating 'safe seats' that nearly guarantee non-competitive general elections. The legality of such actions is debated, with constraints like the Voting Rights Act attempting to regulate the fairness of redistricting, especially concerning racial minorities.
Gerrymandering has evolved from a crude art into a precise science with advancements in data collection and GIS technology. This practice often results in elected officials who represent extremes rather than moderate views due to the safety of their seats, decreasing the incentive to engage with oppositional viewpoints and diminishing the likelihood of political compromise. The outcome of these strategies has a significant impact on the balance of power within state legislatures and Congress.