Forms of Government

1
Forms of Government Electoral Geography
2
A. Forms of Government

• 1. unitary highly centralized government where
  the capital city serves as a focus of power
• Ex France, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan
• 2. federal a government where the state is
  organized into territories, which have control
  over policies funds
• Ex USA, Mexico, India, Russia

3
Unitary or Federal States?
4
Nigerias Government Allows states to
determine whether to have Sharia Law federal or
unitary?
Sharia Law legal systems based on traditional
Islamic laws
5
The U.S. Government Allows individual states
to determine moral laws such as death penalty,
access to alcohol, and concealed weapons. Federal
or Unitary?
Minnesotas concealed weapons law requires the
posting of signs such as this on buildings that
do not allow concealed weapons.
6
B. Electoral Geography

• 1. a states electoral system is part of its
  political spatial organization
• In the U.S.
• - territorial representation (i.e. electoral
  college)
• - (due to new census data every 10 yrs), which
  causes gerrymandering
• - voting rights for minority populations

7

• Gerrymandering
• 1. drawing voting districts to benefit one
  political party over another

Majority-Minority districts drawn so that the
majority of the population in the district is
from a minority.
8
http//2010.census.gov/2010census/data/
9
Gerrymandering Made Simple
Democrats Rule
Republicans Rule
Nobody Rules
Each color represents a different voting district
10
Gerrymandering, CGP Grey-style!

• https//www.youtube.com/watch?vMky11UJb9AY

11
IowaOne of the least diverse (and therefore
least gerrymandered) states
12
2. The excess vote technique

• Concentrate one group in a district
• False pretense of representation

13
3. The wasted vote technique

• Break up concentrations of voters
• Dilutes their voting power

R R R
R R R
D D D
14
4. The stacked vote technique

• Groups power bases together
• Favored by incumbents

15
(No Transcript)
16
The Bullwinkle (New Yorks 12th district) a
Hispanic majority
Images from Mark Monmoniers Bushmanders and
Bullwinkles How Politicians Manipulate
Electronic Maps and Census Data to Win Elections.
Univ. Chicago Press, 2001
17
The Earmuffs (Illinois 4th) a Hispanic
majority
18
The Mask of Zorro (Louisianas 4th) a black
majority
19
Flying fossilized reptile (Texas 30th) a
black majority
20
Bird with plumage (Texas 29th) a Hispanic
majority
21
Gnawed wishbone (Floridas 3rd) a black
majority
22
Gerrymandering, The Daily Show-style!

• http//thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/0adjfq/american-
  horrible-story---gerrymandering