The redistricting game mission 4 solution

Mapmakers (and geography) are crucial to the process of creating voting districts. The creation of a new congressional district, or the loss of an old one, affects every district around it, necessitating new maps. Even states not adding or losing congressional representatives need new district maps that reflect the population shifts within their borders, so that residents are equally represented no matter where they live. This ritual carving and paring of the United States into 435 sovereign units, known as redistricting, was intended by the Framers solely to keep democracy’s electoral scales balanced. Instead, redistricting today has become a part of the political game. The Redistricting Game is a fun interactive way to investigate the importance of the redistricting process. This game will show you how the process can be manipulated, and if you understand local demographics and voting patterns, subtle shifts in the district borders can swing elections. Many countries struggle with how to allocate democratic representation within their territories. This example is from the United States, but it is not a unique phenomenon.

1. In Mission 1 the goal is Population Equality. This means:
a. Similar numbers of homes in each district
b. Similar numbers of people in each district
c. Similar percentages of ethnic/racial groups in each district
d. Similar percentages of economic wealth in each district

2. In Mission 1, what always gets the Representatives really mad?
a. Moving the lines so the population goes down in their district
b. Moving the lines so the Representative’s home in someone else’s district
c. Moving the lines so that the percentage of the opposite party’s voters rises
d. Moving the lines so that the Representative’s territory becomes smaller