Gerrymandering

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Gerrymandering is defined as the carving up of a state into districts in a way that allows one political party to gain more clout than another. It has also been called the most effective way to manipulate an election's outcome short of outright fraud. Focusing on the fight to pass Proposition 11 - drafted to give redistricting power to a bipartisan rather than legislative group - this documentary explores the ethical implications of gerrymandering and looks at some historical examples of how the practice has been used. The experience of assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, who was redistricted out of his own territory by a threatened incumbent; the dramatic response of House Democrats to proposed redistricting in Texas; and how redistricting impacted Barack Obama's political career are all explored with insights from political figures, legal experts, journalists, and activists. With Lani Guinier, of Harvard Law School, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.