Assignment:
You will be asked to respond to the prompt or prompts in the discussion forum. Your initial post should be 75 to 150 words in length.
The Gerrymandering Game
In 1812, Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry had passed into law newly drawn Congressional districts to favor his party (the Democratic-Republican Party). Critics charged that the one particular district looked like a salamander leading the Boston Gazette was first to use the word "Gerry-mander," which was a combination of the Governor's last name and the amphibian creature. Ever since, the drawing of congressional and state legislative districts has been an important tool used by both political parties.
Consistent with the 14th Amendment, every ten years after the decennial census (decennial is a fancy word meaning every ten years), the state legislatures redraw both state legislative and congressional districts. Just as Governor Gerry and the Democratic-Republicans did in 1812, today, both Democratic and Republican partisans use reapportionment (the process of drawing new districts) to create state legislative and congressional districts to the advantage of their respective parties.
First, go to the website: www.ReDistrictingGame.org
Click the Link "Play the Game" to play "The ReDistricting Game." Complete the various district drawing challenges in the game! CAUTION: this game is very addicting!
After playing the game, make a discussion post addressing the following:
• What was your experience with the Gerrymandering game? Did anything surprise you?
• Is it possible to create a "neutral," "fair," or "equal" system for drawing legislative districts? What would be "fair"? What would be or "equal"? What would be "neutral"? How would "neutral," "fair," or "equal" be objectively defined and measured?
• Could Gerrymandering actually be a good thing?
Essay on the Meaning of Liberty
As we read in our lectures this week, philosopher John Locke asked: "If a man in the state of nature is free, if he is absolute lord of his own person and possessions, why will he give up his freedom? Why will he put himself under the control of any person or institution?"
John Locke's answer was: "that the rights in the state of nature are constantly exposed to the attacks of others. Since every man is equal and since most men do not concern themselves with equity and justice, the enjoyment of rights in the state of nature is unsafe and insecure. Hence each man joins in society with others to preserve life, liberty, and property."
In at least 500 words answer the following questions:
• In your own words, what is freedom? (*Note: dictionary definitions of the word freedom will not be accepted)
• In your own words, what is liberty? (*Note: dictionary definitions of the words liberty will not be accepted)
• Does your definition of freedom agree with Locke's definition of freedom? Why or why not?
• Does your definition of liberty agree with Locke's understanding of liberty? Why or why not?
• John Locke argues that freedom and liberty are very different things. Do you agree or not? Why or why not?
• Finally, how did these ideas of liberty and freedom connect to the creation of the Constitution?
Please note: APA formatting and citations rules apply to this and all essays in this course.