Redistricting in Comparative Perspective

by Lisa Handley (Editor), Bernard Grofman (Editor)

Overview

The aim of this book is threefold. First to put in one place for the convenience of both scholars and practitioners the basic data on redistricting practices in democracies around the world. Remarkably, this data has never before been collected. Second, to provide a series of short case studies that look in more detail at particular countries with regard to the institutions and practices that have evolved for redistricting and the nature of the debates that have arisen. Third, to begin to look in comparative perspective at the consequences of alternative redistricting mechanisms and at the tradeoffs among competing redistricting criteria. This volume has contributions from some of the leading specialists on redistricting in the world. The chapters reflect a mix of country-specific material, chapters that are broadly comparative, and chapters whose contributions are more methodological in nature. The chapters in this volume provide an indispensable introduction to the institutions, practices, and consequences of boundary delimitation around the world. Comparative Politics is a series for students and teachers of political science that deals with contemporary issues in comparative government and politics. The General Editors are David M. Farrell, Jean Monnet Chair in European Politics and Head of School of Social Sciences, University of Manchester and Alfio Mastropaolo, University of Turin. The series is published in association with the European Consortium for Political Research.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780191551703
Publisher:	OUP Oxford
Publication date:	06/26/2008
Series:	Comparative Politics
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Bernard Grofman received his B.S. in Mathematics at the University of Chicago in 1966 and his Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of Chicago in 1972. He has been Professor of Political Science since 1980, and on the faculty of the University of California, Irvine since 1976. His past research has dealt with mathematical models of group decision making, legislative representation, electoral rules, and redistricting. Currently, he is working on comparative politics and political economy, with an emphasis on viewing the United States in comparative perspective. He is co-author of 4 books and co-editor of 16 other books; he has published over 200 research articles and book chapters, including work in the American Political Science Review, the American Journal of Political Science, the Journal of Politics, the British Journal of Political Science, Electoral Studies, Social Choice and Welfare, and Public Choice. Professor Grofman is a past President of the Public Choice Society. Lisa Handley is President of Frontier International Electoral Consulting and a widely recognized expert on the drawing of electoral boundaries, her previous books include Minority Representation and the Quest for Voting Equality (with B. Grofman and R.G. Niemi, CUP, 1994).

Table of Contents

List of Figures x

List of Tables xi

Notes on Contributors xiii

I Introduction

Introduction: Redistricting in Comparative Perspective Bernard Grofman Lisa Handley 3

II Structuring the Process: The Boundary Authority

1 From Gerrymanders to Independence: District Boundary Readjustments in Canada John C. Courtney 11

2 An Independent Commission with Political Input: New Zealand's Electoral Redistribution Practices Alan McRobie 27

3 From Politics to Technicalities: Mexican Redistricting in Historical Perspective Alonso Lujambio Horacio Vives 43

4 United States Redistricting: A Comparative Look at the 50 States Michael P. McDonald 55

III Setting the Rules: One Person, One Vote and Other Principles

5 Delimitation in India Alistair McMillan 75

6 Redistribution in Australia: The Importance of One Vote, One Value Rod Medew 97

7 The Politics of Redistricting in Japan: A Contradiction between Equal Population and Respect for Local Government Boundaries Toshimasha Moriwaki 107

IV Making Provisions for Minority Representation

8 Reserved Seats in National Legislatures: A Comparative Approach Andrew Reynolds 115

9 The Design of Ethnically Mixed Constituencies in Fiji, 1970-2006 Jon Fraenkel 123

10 Race and Redistricting in the United States: An Overview David Lublin 141

V Taking Account of the Broader Context: Electoral Rules and Systems

11 Electoral Redistricting in Ireland John Coakley 155

12 Redistricting in France under Changing Electoral Rules Michel Balinski 173

13 Delimiting Electoral Boundaries in Post-Conflict Settings Lisa Handley 191

VI Measuring the Impact and Reforming the Process

14 ElectoralDistortion Despite Redistricting by Independent Commissions: The British Case, 1950-2005 Ron Johnston Charles Pattie David Rossiter 205

15 The Partisan Consequences of Baker v. Carr and the One Person, One Vote Revolution Thomas Brunell Bernard Grofman 225

16 Automating the Districting Process: An Experiment Using a Japanese Case Study Toshihiro Sakaguchi Junichiro Wada 237

VII Multicountry Comparisons of Delimitation Practices

17 Districting and Redistricting in Eastern and Central Europe: Regulations and Practices Marina Popescu Gabor Toka 251

18 A Comparative Survey of Structures and Criteria for Boundary Delimitation Lisa Handley 265

Appendices 285

References 307

Index 319

Editorial Reviews

"All of the chapters in this useful volume are capable of standing alone, so they can be read selectively depnding on readers' interests."—American Review of Politics

From the Publisher