In summary, in this series, I explored the difference between counties and districts, and the thin line between redistricting and gerrymandering. I mentioned that a county is an agglomeration of several districts, which are further subdivided into cities. Districts, on the other hand, which are composed of many cities, form a congressional collectivity forming state legislatures or state assemblies. Moreover, I explained that redistricting or political equality was the process of adjusting the boundaries of a district or county to meet population changes, while gerrymandering was the manipulation of the boundaries of a district by either political party to gain political advantages.
As you drive on highways and inner cities, you see signs that say“Entering Bexar County or Leaving Orange County.” Do you know what that means? As you send your children to school, you hear about school districts. Moreover, as elections approach, you hear candidates saying they represent district 3, 7, 30, and so on. Do you know what that means? Do you know the difference between a district and a county?
This series talks about the different levels of American governance, and most importantly, it establishes differences between county and district and their role in local governments and politics. It also discusses the differences between redistricting and gerrymandering.
A state is a territorial political and administrative division of the entire United States. Each state generally is divided into counties. The county is subdivided into districts, and districts are further subdivided into cities and towns.
A county is part of a state that is larger than a city and has its own government to deal with local issues. I am sure you heard of El Paso County, Bear County, Orange County, Suffolk County, etc. Under the governance of various elected and appointed officials, a county serves as an administrative arm of the state to maintain records, provide courts and law enforcement, build roads, assess property, collect taxes, administer jails, and conduct elections.
A county is further subdivided into districts. A district is an agglomeration of many cities forming a congressional collectivity. Congressional districts, also known as electoral districts or legislative districts are divisions of a larger administrative county that represent the population of that county in the larger congressional body. What I meant was that district residents elect house and state representatives, and these elected officials go on to form the state legislature or the state assembly. The state legislature or the state assembly performs the same duties as members of the U.S. Congress, except that they vote on laws and legislations for their specific state. Do you now understand what I was trying to say? May I please proceed?
The number of districts depends on how many residents live in the county. Although the number of counties may not change, the number of districts may, due to population growth. As such, not all counties have the same number of districts, and the total of districts a county has may change at each election cycle. The federal and state constitutions allow parties to create new districts to bring more candidates to the field. This is called redistricting or political equality. Political equality means that all the districts must have the same number of residents to ensure equal representations at state assemblies. When redistricting favors one party or when a party does it to gain more seats at their state legislature, dissidents call it gerrymandering. Gerrymandering is the act of manipulating the boundaries of an electoral constituency so as to favor one party. It is the process of updating the maps for various districts to balance the population after each census. In a much simpler term, redistricting or gerrymandering takes voters from a current district to place them in a newly created district.
In summary, in this series, I explored the difference between counties and districts, and the thin line between redistricting and gerrymandering. I mentioned that a county is an agglomeration of several districts, which are further subdivided into cities. Districts, on the other hand, which are composed of many cities, form a congressional collectivity forming state legislatures or state assemblies. Moreover, I explained that redistricting or political equality was the process of adjusting the boundaries of a district or county to meet population changes, while gerrymandering was the manipulation of the boundaries of a district by either political party to gain political advantages.
This series talks about the different levels of American governance, and most importantly, it establishes differences between county and district and their role in local governments and politics. It also discusses the differences between redistricting and gerrymandering.
A state is a territorial political and administrative division of the entire United States. Each state generally is divided into counties. The county is subdivided into districts, and districts are further subdivided into cities and towns.
A county is part of a state that is larger than a city and has its own government to deal with local issues. I am sure you heard of El Paso County, Bear County, Orange County, Suffolk County, etc. Under the governance of various elected and appointed officials, a county serves as an administrative arm of the state to maintain records, provide courts and law enforcement, build roads, assess property, collect taxes, administer jails, and conduct elections.
A county is further subdivided into districts. A district is an agglomeration of many cities forming a congressional collectivity. Congressional districts, also known as electoral districts or legislative districts are divisions of a larger administrative county that represent the population of that county in the larger congressional body. What I meant was that district residents elect house and state representatives, and these elected officials go on to form the state legislature or the state assembly. The state legislature or the state assembly performs the same duties as members of the U.S. Congress, except that they vote on laws and legislations for their specific state. Do you now understand what I was trying to say? May I please proceed?
The number of districts depends on how many residents live in the county. Although the number of counties may not change, the number of districts may, due to population growth. As such, not all counties have the same number of districts, and the total of districts a county has may change at each election cycle. The federal and state constitutions allow parties to create new districts to bring more candidates to the field. This is called redistricting or political equality. Political equality means that all the districts must have the same number of residents to ensure equal representations at state assemblies. When redistricting favors one party or when a party does it to gain more seats at their state legislature, dissidents call it gerrymandering. Gerrymandering is the act of manipulating the boundaries of an electoral constituency so as to favor one party. It is the process of updating the maps for various districts to balance the population after each census. In a much simpler term, redistricting or gerrymandering takes voters from a current district to place them in a newly created district.
In summary, in this series, I explored the difference between counties and districts, and the thin line between redistricting and gerrymandering. I mentioned that a county is an agglomeration of several districts, which are further subdivided into cities. Districts, on the other hand, which are composed of many cities, form a congressional collectivity forming state legislatures or state assemblies. Moreover, I explained that redistricting or political equality was the process of adjusting the boundaries of a district or county to meet population changes, while gerrymandering was the manipulation of the boundaries of a district by either political party to gain political advantages.