Redistricting : the most political activity in America /

The redrawing of Congressional and state legislative districts is a process with profound consequences for American elections and public policy. Bullock (Univ. of Georgia) offers an important contribution to understanding the history and contemporary politics of this vital process. In many states, redistricting authority resides in state legislatures. Prior to a series of US Supreme Court decisions in the 1960s, states permitted wide variation in the populations of legislative districts, and some states elected all their US representatives at large in statewide elections. Now, the US courts require that districts be equal in population, compact, contiguous, and respectful of preexisting political subdivisions. Bullock covers all this thoroughly while noting the consequences of recent developments, such as the requirement of racial redistricting in the 1982 Voting Rights Act amendments and the increasing use of independent redistricting commissions in some states. He assesses partisan gerrymandering techniques and notes their use by many state legislatures. More recent controversies about the 2020 census and the policy consequences of redistricting also receive careful attention. This is an essential volume on one of the most significant processes in American politics. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Undergraduates through faculty, professionals, and general readers. --Steven E Schier, emeritus, Carleton College