word
Gerrymander
Drawing electoral districts in bizarre shapes to favor one party.
Origin
Coined in 1812 from Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry, who signed off on a salamander-shaped district designed to benefit his party. A Boston Gazette cartoonist drew the district as a dragon and called it the 'Gerry-mander.' The portmanteau stuck.
Modern usage
Standard vocabulary in U.S. election coverage and any debate about electoral reform.
Tags
elections
manipulation