Stanford Seminar - Partisan Gerrymandering and the Supreme Court: The Role of Social Science

Explore a Stanford seminar on partisan gerrymandering and its implications for the U.S. Supreme Court, focusing on the role of social science in legal proceedings. Delve into the background of the Gill v Whitford case, examining various metrics proposed for measuring gerrymandering, including the efficiency gap. Learn from Eric McGhee, the inventor of the efficiency gap measure, as he discusses the legal context, analyzes different approaches to quantifying gerrymandering, and reflects on how social science research influences litigation. Gain insights into the challenges faced by the Supreme Court in establishing constitutional constraints on partisan redistricting, and understand the potential impact of this case on American politics. Discover the complexities of electoral reform, legislative behavior, and the intersection of political science and law in this comprehensive examination of a critical issue in contemporary U.S. democracy.

Introduction
Outline
Davis V Bandemer
What followed
Vieth v Biller
LULAC v Perry
Political Parties
The Basic Problem
An Opening for Social Science
A Challenge for the Courts
Symmetry
The Counterfactual
The drunkards search
Thresholds
Kennedys concerns
Symmetry standard
Efficiency gap
Advantages of the efficiency gap
Bias and media indifference
When is too much
Advantages
Unhappy surprises
The efficiency gap
Blowout phenomenon
Computer simulations
Political neutrality
Where did this all get us
Background of the case
Results of the case
The plaintiffs expert witness
Results of simulations
Culture clash
Roberts manonthestreet
Where do we go next
Will there be a winning metric
Other reform efforts
Counterfactuals