Redistricting in Comparative Perspective (Comparative Politics)

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. 9780199227402 Contents 8 List of Figures 11 List of Tables 12 Notes on Contributors 14 I. Introduction 18 Introduction: Redistricting in Comparative Perspective 20 II. Structuring the Process: The Boundary Authority 26 1. From Gerrymanders to Independence: District Boundary Readjustments in Canada 28 2. An Independent Commission with Political Input: New Zealand’s Electoral Redistribution Practices 44 3. From Politics to Technicalities: Mexican Redistricting in Historical Perspective 60 4. United States Redistricting: A Comparative Look at the 50 States 72 III. Setting the Rules: One Person, One Vote and Other Principles 90 5. Delimitation in India 92 6. Redistribution in Australia: The Importance of One Vote, One Value 114 7. The Politics of Redistricting in Japan: A Contradiction between Equal Population and Respect for Local Government Boundaries 124 IV. Making Provisions for Minority Representation 130 8. Reserved Seats in National Legislatures: A Comparative Approach 132 9. The Design of Ethnically Mixed Constituencies in Fiji, 1970—2006 140 10. Race and Redistricting in the United States: An Overview 158 V. Taking Account of the Broader Context: Electoral Rules and Systems 170 11. Electoral Redistricting in Ireland 172 12. Redistricting in France under Changing Electoral Rules 190 13. Delimiting Electoral Boundaries in Post-Conflict Settings 208 VI. Measuring the Impact and Reforming the Process 220 14. Electoral Distortion Despite Redistricting by Independent Commissions: The British Case, 1950—2005 222 15. The Partisan Consequences of Baker v. Carr and the One Person, One Vote Revolution 242 16. Automating the Districting Process: An Experiment Using a Japanese Case Study 254 VII. Multicountry Comparisons of Delimitation Practices 266 17. Districting and Redistricting in Eastern and Central Europe: Regulations and Practices 268 18. A Comparative Survey of Structures and Criteria for Boundary Delimitation 282 Appendices 302 References 324 Index 336 A 336 B 336 C 337 D 338 E 339 F 340 G 340 H 341 I 341 J 342 K 342 L 342 M 343 N 344 O 344 P 344 Q 345 R 345 S 346 T 347 U 347 V 348 W 348 Y 348 Z 348 # Publisher: Oxford University Press,USA # Number Of Pages: 264 # Publication Date: 2008-08-15 # ISBN-10 / ASIN: 0199227403

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.

"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"--Jacket This indispensable introduction to the institutions, practices, and consequences of boundary delimitation around the world brings together some of the world's leading specialists on redistricting. - ;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