Re:Article 1 section 2 paragraph 3 of the US Constitution (2...
by dragonwriter on Monday September 19, 2016 @03:31PM
(#12534033)
> that keeps our House in the hands of the two parties
Single member districts, first-past-the-post elections, and the Presidential system (which creates a big winner-take-all election, and makes the parties competitive for that election even stronger relative to other parties than they otherwise would be in downballot elections) are what keeps the House (and Senate, you will note, so the gerrymander-proof nature of the Senate is no defense against duopoly) in the hands of the two major parties.
Gerrymandering may effect which of those two parties is likely to hold which seats in the House, and effect competitiveness between the parties for particular seats, but is pretty much irrelevant to duopoly.
Single member districts, first-past-the-post elections, and the Presidential system (which creates a big winner-take-all election, and makes the parties competitive for that election even stronger relative to other parties than they otherwise would be in downballot elections) are what keeps the House (and Senate, you will note, so the gerrymander-proof nature of the Senate is no defense against duopoly) in the hands of the two major parties.
Gerrymandering may effect which of those two parties is likely to hold which seats in the House, and effect competitiveness between the parties for particular seats, but is pretty much irrelevant to duopoly.