1.  Pork Barrel – legislation that only benefits one region or district (Congressmen are bringing home the bacon to get re-elected)  Logrolling – Members of Congress will vote for a bill in exchange for a bill that benefits them (I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine)

3.  What is gerrymandering? Gerrymandering is a term that describes the deliberate rearrangement of the boundaries of congressional districts to influence the outcome of elections.  Where did gerrymandering come from? The original gerrymander was created in 1812 by Massachusetts’s governor Elbridge Gerry, who crafted a district for political purposes that looked like a salamander.

5.  What is the purpose of gerrymandering? The purpose of gerrymandering is to either concentrate opposition votes into a few districts to gain more seats for the majority in surrounding districts (called packing), or to diffuse minority strength across many districts (called dilution).  How has Congress regulated redistricting? In 1967, Congress passed a law requiring all U.S. representatives to be elected from single member districts—the system we use today. All other redistricting regulations come from the states or the courts.

9.  Is Mississippi an example of racial gerrymandering? Why or why not?  How can a state avoid being accused of racial gerrymandering?