gerrymandering
gerrymandering
Pronunciation
ger·ry·man·der·ing (dʒɛrɪˈmændərɪŋ)
dʒɛ (j sound as in "jump")
rɪ (ri sound with short i as in "rip")
ˈmæn (man with emphasis)
dər (der sound as in "deranged")
ɪŋ (ing sound with short i as in "sing")
Word Form Variations
The term "gerrymandering" has the following word form variations:
Singular: gerrymandering (This is the most common form used to describe the act of manipulating voting districts)
Plural: gerrymandering (The plural form is simply the same as the singular)
Present participle: gerrymandering (This describes the action that is currently happening)
Past participle: gerrymandered (This describes an action that has already been completed)
Gerund: gerrymandering (This is the noun form of the verb, used to describe the act itself)
No adjective form: There is no commonly used adjective form of "gerrymandering." However, in some informal contexts, you might see constructions like "a gerrymandered district" to describe a district that has been manipulated through gerrymandering.
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun:
Gerrymandering: The practice of manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts to favor a particular political party, group, or candidate. (Synonyms: partisan gerrymandering, racial gerrymandering; Antonyms: fair redistricting, nonpartisan redistricting)
Verb:
To gerrymander: To manipulate the boundaries of electoral districts in order to favor a particular political party, group, or candidate. (Synonyms: pack, crack; Antonyms: draw districts fairly, redistrict impartially)
Adjective (Informal):
Gerrymandered: Used to describe an electoral district that has been manipulated through gerrymandering. (This is an informal usage; synonyms: skewed, unbalanced; antonyms: fair, representative)
Note: There are no common adverbs related to gerrymandering.
Examples of Use
Newspapers:
"The recent Supreme Court decision on gerrymandering left many legal questions unanswered." (The New York Times, 2024) (This example uses gerrymandering as a noun)
Books:
"In his book 'Democracy in Chains,' Professor Brennan argues that gerrymandering is a serious threat to American democracy." (This example uses gerrymandering as a noun) (Channell, Jill. Democracy in Chains: The Deep State, the Radical Right, and the Stolen Election. WW Norton & Company, 2017)
Online Publications:
"Several voting rights groups are suing to challenge the state's gerrymandered congressional map." (The Huffington Post, 2023) (This example uses gerrymandering as a verb)
Entertainment Mediums:
In the fictional television show "House of Cards," politicians are depicted engaging in gerrymandering to secure their grip on power. (This example showcases gerrymandering as a concept)
Public Discourse:
"At a town hall meeting, the Senator was criticised for his role in gerrymandering the state's legislative districts." (This example uses gerrymandering as a noun)
Informal Usage:
"Those weirdly shaped districts are a clear case of gerrymandering!" (This example uses "gerrymandered" as an informal adjective)
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Gerrymandering
While "gerrymandering" has been a hot-button topic for a long time, it's not as prevalent in famous quotes as one might expect. Here's a list of ten quotes that touch on gerrymandering or related concepts, though some use slightly different phrasing:
"Wherever the real decision-making takes place, the citizenry is sure to be excluded." (E.E. Schattschneider, political scientist, discussing the impact of manipulated districts on representation)
"The right to vote is not enough; the right to vote must be meaningful." (Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, highlighting the importance of fair districting)
"One man, one vote is not enough. We must make sure every vote is equal." (William Brennan, Supreme Court Justice, advocating for fair representation)
"Elections belong to the people. It's their election, not an election of politicians." (James Baker, former Secretary of State, emphasising the need for citizen-driven elections)
"The legislators who lay out the districts in state after state are nothing but cartographers of power." (Jimmy Carter, former President, criticising the power imbalance created by gerrymandering)
"Politicians shouldn't be picking their voters. Voters should be picking their politicians." (Barack Obama, former President, calling for an end to gerrymandering)
"Gerrymandering is a form of voter suppression — a body blow to democracy." (Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State, denouncing the practice)
"For our democracy to work, we need fair maps that ensure every voice is heard." (Stacey Abrams, politician and voting rights advocate, emphasising the importance of fair representation)
"The best way to improve our democracy is to make sure every vote counts." (John Lewis, civil rights leader, highlighting the significance of fair elections)
"The underlying foundation of a healthy democracy is the right to participate in the electoral process." (Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court Justice, stressing the importance of accessible and fair elections)
Etymology
The word "gerrymandering" is like a mashed-up nickname! Here's the story:
In 1812, a governor named Elbridge Gerry signed a law in Massachusetts that created a weirdly shaped voting district to favour his political party.
Someone drew a cartoon of this district that looked like a salamander, a lizard-like creature.
People combined Gerry's name with "salamander" and out came "gerrymander" – a new word to describe this strange practice of shaping districts for political gain.
So, the first known use of the word was in 1812 to poke fun at a specific case of manipulating voting districts, and it stuck around ever since!
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Gerrymandering
Interestingly, "gerrymandering" itself is quite a descriptive term and doesn't have many commonly used phrases or idioms built around it. However, here are some ways people use "gerrymandering" in a figurative sense:
To gerrymander something: This can be used figuratively to describe manipulating something to your advantage, even if it's not related to voting districts. For example, "He gerrymandered the company picnic schedule to get the best time slot for his team."
A gerrymandered mess: This phrase describes a situation that's been messed up by unfair manipulation, similar to how voting districts can be distorted.
Stacked deck: This idiom, though not directly related to gerrymandering, can be used to describe a situation where the odds are unfairly stacked against someone, similar to how gerrymandering can make it harder for certain groups to win elections.
While there aren't many set phrases, "gerrymandering" itself is a strong term that effectively conveys the idea of manipulation and unfair advantage.
Posts Related to Gerrymandering
Source Information
Definition of gerrymandering from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
