Dummymander

Written By Jonathan Milner

First, the definition of gerrymander: Gerrymandering is the manipulation of district lines to benefit parties and politicians, rather than people. It’s named for an 1812 redistricting plan backed by Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry. In that plan, one district was so convoluted to benefit Governor Gerry’s party, it looked like a salamander. The name Gerrymander has been with us ever since. It’s fundamentally antidemocratic because it’s designed to circumvent or at least dampen the will of voters. For the same reason, it’s very difficult to overcome through democratic means: You can’t exactly vote out the people in power if they’ve drawn districts designed to stop you from doing so.

Dummymander is the term that the political scientists Bernard Grofman and Thomas L. Brunell coined for what happens when a gerrymander backfires, hurting the party that it was designed to help.

Example

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Questions

  1. What is the definition of gerrymandering, and what is its primary purpose?

  2. From what historical event and political figure did the term "gerrymander" originate?

  3. Why is gerrymandering considered fundamentally antidemocratic?

  4. What political scientists coined the term dummymander?

  5. What is the definition of a dummymander?

  6. In what year was the Massachusetts redistricting plan that inspired the term "gerrymander" enacted?

  7. What object was the convoluted district compared to, which led to the creation of the name "Gerrymander"?

  8. Why is it very difficult to overcome gerrymandering through democratic means?

  9. Use dummymander in a sentence that will make your family proud and demonstrates that you actually know what it means.

  10. Find an image or emoji that does justice to the sublime beauty of dummymander:

    Answer Key

    1. Gerrymandering is the manipulation of district lines to benefit parties and politicians, rather than people.

    2. It originated from an 1812 redistricting plan backed by Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry.

    3. It is fundamentally antidemocratic because it’s designed to circumvent or at least dampen the will of voters.

    4. The political scientists Bernard Grofman and Thomas L. Brunell coined the term dummymander.

    5. A dummymander is what happens when a gerrymander backfires, hurting the party that it was designed to help.

    6. The Massachusetts redistricting plan was enacted in 1812.

    7. The convoluted district was compared to a salamander.

    8. It is very difficult to overcome through democratic means because you can’t exactly vote out the people in power if they’ve drawn districts designed to stop you from doing so.

    9. Answers will vary

    10. Answers will vary

Remember!

Now, let’s commit this term to our long-term memory. On a scrap piece of paper, take 10 or 20 seconds to draw dummymander. Draw with symbols or stick figures if you wish. Nothing fancy. Don’t expect a masterpiece. No one else will see this but you. Look at your drawing. That’s all - now it’s downloaded into your memory. Destroy the piece of paper in a most delightful way.

GoPo Glossary

Jonathan Milner

Civics Maven!

https://www.gopopro.com/
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