The Philosophical implications of the Political Redistricting Process
In class we learned about the constitutional implications and mandate of redistricting.
Baker v.Carr determined and stated that States have a constitutional obligation to redistrict to grant equal oppurtunity under the 14th ammendment.
Redistricting was used to empower new members of the state and their legislatures. The lack of redistricting in state legislatures severly disadvantages those in populous areas. In the Baker v. Carr decision, once the supreme court decision was affirmed it empowered minorities. This was acheived by enforcing redistricitng so that there growing population would equate to adequate representation.
However, recently redistricting has had a negative effect on minorities voice and representation. In 2009 Republicans in the VA house of represenatives won the re-drawing of district lines 20-19. This granted them the ability within constitutional lines to remake the district.
Republicans argued that this increased the number of predominately Black districts from 5-6. However, Democrats argued that the grouping and removal of blacks from other districts diluted their overall strength because they were essentially removed from a dozen districts.
Redistricting is definitely necassary but it is important to be aware and notice its political implications.
How do you all feel about its effect on the Democratic proccess?
I defiantly feel that it has a big negative effect because we are suppose to be "One Equal Country" and by doing this we are almost eliminate that quality.
ReplyDeleteI feel that redistricting can be both a good or bad thing depending on who is doing the redistricting. Baker v. Carr is an example of redistricting being good since minorities finally got to be represented. The Virginia House of Representatives story is an example of redistricting being bad because the power of black voters got diminished. Bottom line, redistricting is something that could help or hurt the democratic process depending on who is doing it.
ReplyDeleteI feel like redistricting should be necessary to make everything sort of fair as possible, because since our country gives lots of people opportunities, then I feel as if though redistricting will always be a good idea. There could be some negative effects but I doubt it will change anything anyhow, and we will always keep it.
ReplyDeleteI think it has its positives and negatives. By redistricting a lot of minorities got a chance to have their vote count. Along with that, since the power for the blacks dropped it doesnt show the equality that our country is supposed to have.
ReplyDeleteI believe this is unfair. Because of redistricting many Afro Americans are unable to live comfortably because they can't afford to live where they've been redistricted or sometimes the crime rates are too high for them to stay.
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