What is a true statement about gerrymandering?

• A. Banned by Supreme Court decisions
• B. Maintained urban control of the House
• C. Used by parties to control districts
• D. Guarantees constituency control over representatives

Answer: (C)

Gerrymandering is a practice where political parties manipulate electoral district boundaries to gain an advantage in elections. The correct answer highlights that parties use gerrymandering to control districts, often by either concentrating opposition voters into a few districts or dispersing them across many districts to dilute their voting power. This allows the party in control to enhance its chances of winning elections, shaping the political landscape in a way that favors them.

The other options address different aspects of gerrymandering but do not accurately reflect its primary use. Some Supreme Court decisions have addressed gerrymandering, but they have not outright banned the practice, leaving room for its continued use. The phrase "maintained urban control of the House" refers to specific cases of gerrymandering and does not capture the broader implication of how it is used by political parties. Lastly, the statement about guaranteeing constituency control over representatives is misleading, as gerrymandering can often undermine the true representation of voters' preferences in the electoral process.