gerrymander
UK: ˈdʒer.iˌmæn.dər | US: ˈdʒer.iˌmæn.dər
vt. to manipulate the boundaries of an electoral constituency to favor one party or group.
n. the practice of manipulating electoral boundaries for political advantage.
gerrymander = Gerry<Elbridge Gerry> + (sala)mander<lizard>
- Gerry: Named after Elbridge Gerry (1744–1814), a U.S. politician who approved a redistricting plan favoring his party in 1812.
- mander: Derived from "salamander," as the redrawn district resembled a lizard in a political cartoon.
Etymology Origin:
The term originated in 1812 when Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry signed a redistricting bill that created a bizarrely shaped district resembling a salamander. A political cartoonist combined "Gerry" and "salamander" to coin "gerrymander," capturing both the absurdity of the district and its political intent. The word has since become a standard term for partisan redistricting.
The state legislature was accused of trying to gerrymander districts to secure a majority.
Gerrymandering undermines fair representation in democratic systems.
Activists protested the gerrymandered map, calling it undemocratic.
The court ruled that the gerrymandered boundaries violated voting rights.
Historically, both parties have used gerrymandering to gain political advantage.