Gerrymandering And Electoral Boundaries MCQ Practice Test

Q1. Which of the following U.S. states has a congressional district that was created as a result of the 1992 redistricting process, specifically designed to split a predominantly African American neighborhood in Charleston?

• A. Alabama's 7th congressional district
• B. South Carolina's 1st congressional district ✓
• C. Georgia's 5th congressional district
• D. North Carolina's 12th congressional district

Q2. The word "gerrymander" was coined in 1812 after the governor of which U.S. state approved a redistricting map whose district shape resembled a salamander?

• A. Massachusetts ✓
• B. Virginia
• C. New York
• D. Pennsylvania

Q3. The city of Philadelphia is surrounded by a peculiar electoral district known as the “Colloquially known as the “Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex Gerrymander”, however, this is actually a reference to a different state. Which of the following states is home to a similarly infamous gerrymandered district called the “Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex Gerrymander”?

• A. New Jersey ✓
• B. Pennsylvania
• C. New York
• D. Massachusetts

Q4. The 2011 redistricting process in Texas led to the creation of “The Gerrymander”, a congressional district that stretches from Dallas to Houston, which is often cited as an example of “gerrymandering”. This district is “the most gerrymandered” congressional district in the US, with a “ Polsby Popper Index” score of 0.49. Which of the following best describes the Polsby Popper Index?

• A. A measure of a district's compactness, with higher scores indicating more compact districts ✓
• B. A measure of a district's population deviation, with higher scores indicating less deviation
• C. A measure of a district's contiguity, with higher scores indicating more contiguous districts
• D. A measure of a district's irregularity, with lower scores indicating more irregular districts

Q5. Which of the following electoral districting techniques is often used to justify gerrymandering in the United States?

• A. Compactness Index
• B. Median Radius Method
• C. Equal Population Method with a twist ✓
• D. Mann-Byrd Method

Q6. The use of “cracking” and “packing” in electoral boundary manipulation is most commonly associated with which of the following US states?

• A. California is known for its compact and contiguous districts.
• B. Texas has implemented a non-partisan redistricting commission to reduce gerrymandering.
• C. North Carolina’s 1st congressional district is an example of a “cracked” district. ✓
• D. Florida has a history of using “packing” to concentrate minority voters in a few districts.

Q7. In the state of Maryland, the “Crab Bowl” is a colloquial term for the highly gerrymandered congressional district that stretches from the Chesapeake Bay to the Washington, D.C. suburbs. Which of the following is a key characteristic of this district?

• A. It is a compact and contiguous district that follows traditional county boundaries.
• B. It is a majority-minority district with a high percentage of African American voters.
• C. It has a unique shape that zigzags through multiple counties, including Anne Arundel, Prince George's, and Calvert. ✓
• D. It is a rural district that spans multiple western counties in Maryland.

Q8. In the state of Maryland, the legislative district of "District 3B" is often cited as an example of gerrymandering. Which of the following best describes the unique feature of this district?

• A. It is a highly compact and contiguous district.
• B. It is a "cracked" district, where a minority group is spread across multiple districts. ✓
• C. It is a "packed" district, where a majority group is concentrated into a single district.
• D. It is a "wasted vote" district, where a majority group is split across multiple districts.

Q9. The 2011 redrawing of electoral boundaries in the Canadian province of Ontario was criticized for its impact on the riding of “Scarborough”, which was split between the ridings of Scarborough–Agincourt and Scarborough–Guildwood. What was the result of this redrawing?

• A. The riding of Scarborough was abolished and replaced by two new ridings.
• B. The riding of Scarborough was merged with the riding of Pickering–Uxbridge.
• C. The riding of Scarborough was split between the ridings of Scarborough–Agincourt and Scarborough–Guildwood. ✓
• D. The riding of Scarborough was renamed to Scarborough Southwest.

Q10. The term 'gerrymandering' was coined in 1812 to describe the manipulation of electoral boundaries in Massachusetts. Which of the following best describes the original gerrymander?

• A. A district that divided a rural area of pro-Republican voters to give an urban pro-Democrat area a majority.
• B. A district that combined multiple urban and rural areas to create a more competitive seat.
• C. A district that was shaped like a salamander to honor Governor Elbridge Gerry, a Democrat. ✓
• D. A district that was redrawn to favor a Republican incumbent in a safely Democratic district.

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