Election Systems and Gerrymandering Worldwide

Robert S. (Steve) Bickerstaff started his professional career with the State of Texas as a Parliamentarian of the State Senate, Director of the State Office of Constitutional Research, and Assistant Attorney General. In 1981 he left the state’s employment and founded the private law firm of Bickerstaff, Heath and Smiley (now Bickerstaff, Heath, Delgado, Acosta). During his time as a private attorney he was involved in numerous prominent cases in Texas and other states. He left the law firm, which had expanded to 50 attorneys, over a decade ago, and is now retired.During much of his career, Steve was also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas Law School, teaching constitutional law and voting rights. He also taught as a Fulbright Scholar in Germany, was a Rockefeller Scholar in Residence at the Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio, Italy, was part of a Carter Commission study of elections in China, and lectured at 16 different universities in Europe, includingthe UK, and Scandinavia.Steve was on the governing board of several non-profits, including The Trustees for Alaska, the Board of Visitors for McDonald Astronomical Observatory, and West Texas Public Radio. He remains on the National Council of the National Parks Conservation Association. He is the author of six books and 26 law review articles or chapters in election law anthologies. Virtually all of this writing is on legal issues, such as voting rights and telecommunications regulation.

“Bickerstaff often relies on broad generalizations and categorizations. However, he is also to be commended for completing such a broad survey and for providing such an interesting framework within which to compare representative systems. ... the reader is left feeling hopeful, reflecting on the robustness and diversity of democracies worldwide.” (Jennifer M. Wilson, Mathematical Reviews, Issue 3, March, 2024)

• Preface.- The Many Disguises of Gerrymandering.- The World’s Use of Electoral Districts.- Unequal Voting Power.- Equality in Voters or Persons.- The Upper Chamber of a Bicameral Legislature.- Proportional Representation and Electing Nationwide.- Gerrymandering by Untimely or Malapportioned Redistricting or Reallocation of Seats.- Gerrymandering within Fixed Electoral Districts.- Mixed Election Systems Combining Single-Member Electoral Districts with Proportional Representation Elections.- Protecting Access by Minorities and Women to the Political Process.-Criteria for Determining District Boundaries.- The Institution Responsible for Redistricting or Reallocating Seats in the National Legislature.- The Role of Courts.- Conclusion.