The 2012 congressional redistricting cycle following the 2010 Census is just about over and done with. And it seems likely to make much less difference than many of us expected.

For eight years last decade, California had democracy. Then state legislatorsfixed the system to spare incumbents the inconvenience ofchallengers stepping in and taking their seats.

Civil rights groups are trying to get the court to force states to increase the number of safe Democratic districts.

The pre-clearance provision of the Voting Rights Act was essential in 1965.Now it is no longer necessary, and the racial and partisan ends for which it is used are not inour interest.

American law contains important messages about our basic values, and race-driven legislative maps (demanded by the Voting Rights Act, the court has long said) send the wrong message.

On March 1, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case involving the Texas congressional redistricting plan.

The proportional-representation systems that the Justice Department is considering will not remedy violations to the 1965 Voting Rights Act or erase race from American politics.

On issues involving race, Republicans are cowards.