Final answer:
Gerrymandering is the manipulation of legislative district boundaries to favor a particular candidate or party. It is a controversial practice that can impact the fairness of elections.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gerrymandering is the manipulation of legislative district boundaries to favor a particular candidate or party. The term originated from a redistricting plan signed by Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry in 1812. Gerrymandering can be done in various ways, such as concentrating voters of a specific group in a single district or splitting them across multiple districts. It is a controversial practice that is often used to maintain political dominance and can impact the fairness of elections.