What is political gerrymandering and why has it become such a powerful and frequently used weapon in Republican and Democratic efforts to control Congress? Why do critics decry gerrymandering as antithetical to American democracy? How does gerrymandering contribute to political gridlock in Washington? Why does the Supreme Court treat gerrymanders based on race differently than gerrymanders based on partisan considerations? This book answers these questions and many more to provide readers with an accessible, wide-ranging survey of gerrymandering's impact on the past, present, and future of American politics.