Download The Redistricting Game Worksheet

Redistricting Game
Directions: Go to http://redistrictinggame.org/
Key Vocabulary
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Census: process of surveying and counting the U.S. population, using mailed surveys and in-person visits to homes,
mandated by the U.S. Constitution and done every ten years by the federal government. Its results are used for
reapportioning House seats among the states and redistricting districts within states.
Cracking: a term used when the electoral strength of a particular group is divided by a redistricting plan
Gerrymander: drawing a district with boundaries that favor one or more groups of voters and/or some candidates
Packing: a term used when one group is consolidated as a super-majority in a small number of districts, they reducing its
electoral influence in surrounding districts.
Partisan Gerrymandering: drawing a district to favor one political party over others
Racial Gerrymandering: drawing a district to favor one racial group over others
Reapportionment: process of redistributing the number of seats in a
jurisdiction’s legislative body to the districts of that jurisdiction based on the
results of the latest Census.
Redistricting: process of redrawing the districts within a jurisdiction to reflect
the results of the reapportioning process as well as the results of the Census
Mission One:
1. When are states redistricted and why?
2. Explain the THREE fundamental goals/requirements of redistricting.
Mission Two:
3. Explain the goal of “partisan gerrymandering” and the methods used to achieve it
Mission Three:
4. Explain the goal of “bipartisan gerrymandering” and how it is accomplished
Mission Four:
5. How has the Voting Rights Act of 1965 impacted redistricting?
Overall
6. Besides what is clearly indicated above this sheet, what did you learn from the game? How is this game
similar to redistricting in the United States?
Redistricting Game Reflection Form
What were the goals of your mission in the redistricting game? What would be the result from achieving these goals?
("Gerrymandering” is not sufficient. What were the SPECIFIC goals presented?)
What were some difficulties you came across when redistricting the state in order to gain one more district to vote in
favor of your party?
Gerrymandering is achieved through packing districts and cracking districts. Which did you use to achieve the mission
goals? Why was it necessary? From the game text…”Cracking” means spreading like minded voters apart across
multiple districts to dilute their voting power in each, denying the group majority representation in multiple districts.
”Packing” means concentrating like-minded voters together in one district to reduce their voting power in other
districts. This gives the group representation in a single district while denying them representation across districts.
Did this simulation increase your understanding of congressional district gerrymandering? Why or why not?