Cite as: 588 U. S. ____ (2019)
33
Opinion of the Court
Clause. The first bill introduced in the 116th Congress
would require States to create 15-member independent
commissions to draw congressional districts and would
establish certain redistricting criteria, including protection for communities of interest, and ban partisan gerrymandering. H. R. 1, 116th Cong., 1st Sess., §§2401, 2411
(2019).
Dozens of other bills have been introduced to limit
reliance on political considerations in redistricting. In
2010, H. R. 6250 would have required States to follow
standards of compactness, contiguity, and respect for
political subdivisions in redistricting. It also would have
prohibited the establishment of congressional districts
“with the major purpose of diluting the voting strength of
any person, or group, including any political party,” except
when necessary to comply with the Voting Rights Act of
1965. H. R. 6250, 111th Cong., 2d Sess., §2 (referred to
committee).
Another example is the Fairness and Independence in
Redistricting Act, which was introduced in 2005 and has
been reintroduced in every Congress since. That bill
would require every State to establish an independent
commission to adopt redistricting plans. The bill also set
forth criteria for the independent commissions to use, such
as compactness, contiguity, and population equality. It
would prohibit consideration of voting history, political
party affiliation, or incumbent Representative’s residence.
H. R. 2642, 109th Cong., 1st Sess., §4 (referred to
subcommittee).
We express no view on any of these pending proposals.
We simply note that the avenue for reform established by
the Framers, and used by Congress in the past, remains
open.
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No one can accuse this Court of having a crabbed view of