Congressional Maps, Redistricting and Gerrymandering: What Does it All Mean?

Grade Level: 9-12

Time: 50 Minutes

Essential Question

What is gerrymandering and how does it impact elections and “the will of the people?” 

About This Lesson

Redistricting congressional maps and gerrymandering have been in the news a lot lately. What are congressional maps, and how does redistricting, when done for political purposes, lead to gerrymandering? While redistricting is a normal process for how voting maps are drawn, racial gerrymandering is often used as a political tool to change or manipulate election outcomes and to give an unfair advantage to a political party. In this lesson, students will learn about congressional maps, redistricting, and gerrymandering, explore the impact of gerrymandering on voters and elections, and analyze news headlines about recent gerrymandering efforts.