Rotten Borough

Definition

A district that is vastly overrepresented compared to its population, often rural and reliably conservative. Democracy's losers.

Example Usage

Wyoming's rotten borough status gives it disproportionate Senate power despite minimal population.

Origin

British historical term for constituencies with few voters that were essentially for sale

Fun Fact

The Senate deliberately maintains rotten borough representation—it's a feature, not a bug of constitutional design.

Source: Electoral inequality terminology

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