POLI 100B Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Contiguity, Gerrymandering, Utility
Document Summary
With a typical concave utility function, the nomination of an extremist over a moderate affects voters in the opposing party more than voters in the nominee"s party. Specifically, voter j, in the opposing party, loses more utility than voter i gains when voter i"s party nominates an extremist instead of a moderate. After congress apportions seats to the states (based on population), the states need to draw new district lines. Since baker v. carr (1962) districts must have equal populations. Districts drawn by state legislatures or special commissions. Preserving existing political communities (not covering in depth; just means respecting existing political groups roots, places that feel like they are part of the same community, etc) Opinion of a voter in one district worth the same as voter in another district. 1842: congress passes a law requiring single-member districts. Problem: in 2010 montana had 994,000 residents while wyoming had. 568,000- both had one representative in the house.
