Fighting Gerrymandering: A Critical Look at Redistricting Reform

Abstract

Name: Topic: Gerrymandering; A controversial issue of concern to all Americans General Purpose: To inform Specific Purpose: To inform Americans on gerrymandering's true definition and its effects and persuade for their intervention in fighting and stopping gerrymandering as proves a selfish act worth termination. Main Ideas: Defining gerrymandering and what makes it a problem, The causes and effects of gerrymandering to citizens and leaders The right measures to enforce in the fight against gerrymandering. Introduction: (Attention Gainer): According to a report compiled by Michael Wines on June 27th, 2019, in the New York Times, gerrymandering proves to be a controversial issue that the Supreme Court has failed in addressing, which calls for citizens' intervention in ensuring reconsideration of redistricting reforms for a fair redistricting to be realized. It is essential to understand the essentials of willing voting as a civic right entitled to all American citizens. Gerrymandering limits such a privilege, silencing many Americans' voices. Without a fair redistricting process, the "buying the congress" concept will remain a strong determinant of the American leaders. I am an American by birth whose life in districts is well defined. I understand well what it means to vote and vote according to the district's rulers' will. Though I believe in democracy, the American government has not expressed any efforts in ensuring democracy during redistricting process. Such facts give me firm ground in addressing the gerrymandering issue to my audience. (Thesis Statement): The term democracy demands some respect in all aspects of Americans' lives. Unfortunately, gerrymandering tends to limit many privileges around democracy civic right being among the major. For this reason, the need to understand the primary meaning of gerrymandering, the causes and effects of gerrymandering, and the beneficiaries of gerrymandering is essential in finding a lasting cure for this controversial issue. The need for citizen’s collaboration in ensuring that the federal lawmakers reconsider redistricting reform bills that have been left in the legislative limbo without attendance proves to be the primary mission aimed in this speech as a potential remedy to the issue under consideration. (Preview) - My three main topics of discussion will be: defining gerrymandering and what makes it a problem, the causes, and effects of gerrymandering to the leaders and citizens, and finally, the right measures to enforce in the fight against gerrymandering. (Transition): Before describing gerrymandering as a problem to the American population, it is imperative to begin by defining the term gerrymandering. Understanding what gerrymandering is, we will know why it is an issue of concern and its nature as a problem. Main Point I: (Definition, Problems/ Harms) - As American citizens, we should be concerned with gerrymandering because of the adverse effects on citizens voting rights during elections. Such arguments, I attribute to the fact that gerrymandering is the process of unfair slicing of states into districts for the sole purpose of benefiting a single political party. Having confirmed that we are all American dwellers implies that we are all subject to the effects of gerrymandering in case no measures are put in place to stop it. Gerrymandering is a term whose history in the United States runs way back to 1812 when Governor Elbridge Gerry coined it on the review of Massachusetts redistricting maps. The study aimed at expressing how gerrymandering is applied to increase the powers of a political party in the United States. Ever since then, gerrymandering has been gaining new momentums, with among the most notable ones being the rise and fall of Tom Delay. In their documentary on The Big Buy: Tom Delays Stolen Congress, Birnbaum and Schermbeck (2020) argued that Delay's succession in re-writing the Texas Congressional districts was primarily directed in favoring Republicans in winning and controlling the Texas Elections. Delays success was crowned with a house whip position after the election, which silenced Democrats’ voice greatly. Gerrymandering poses adverse dangers to voters whose voting rights are violated and the minorities in the House whose voices are silenced by the majorities’ power. In his article on "The Causes and Consequences of Gerrymandering," Nicholas Stephanopoulos argued that “When a single party fully controls the state government at the time of redistricting, the party typically has both the motive and the opportunity to enact a plan that benefits it and disadvantages its opponents” (Stephanopoulos, 2017). I have mentioned that gerrymandering's significant effect is maximizing a single political party; this in return silences the minorities and citizen’s voices. Based on Charles Blahous's article on "Thinking Apolitically about Gerrymandering," 73% of American respondents defined gerrymandering as a very concerning issue since politicians choose their voters instead of voters choosing them (Blahous, 2019). Such an argument confirms that politicians in skewed districts lines are entirely guaranteed to win the elections, thus paying little or no attention to their constituents, which is a clear indication of limited development expectations from such leaders that accelerates poverty rates amongst Americans. (Transition): Having defined gerrymandering, it is apparent that it proves to be a controversial issue that...