Date of Award
Spring 5-31-2005
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Abstract
In recent years, the redistricting process has become a highly contentious and partisan battle across the nation, especially in California, where representatives exercise the responsibility for drawing their own seats. California's most recent elections demonstrated the least competitive election in the state's history, resulting in not a single seat changing party status. In this study, data has been collected comparing and contrasting the level of electoral competitiveness between the two major parties when both judicial and legislative gerrymandering methods of redistricting when employed in California between the 1968 and the 2004 election cycles. The author finds very little evidence of electoral competitiveness when legislative gerrymandering districting plans were implemented, but observes greater competition and party change when courts were directly involved with the redistricting process. Finally, policy recommendations are made to guide future legislative bodies and voters who are contemplating the effects of various redistricting legislative and initiative proposals that have been introduced.
Recommended Citation
Conklin, Damon, "JUDICIAL REDISTRICTING: PROMOTION OF ELECTORAL COMPETITIVENESS IN CALIFORNIA" (2005). EMPA Capstones. 132.
https://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/capstones/132