The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld most of the controversial changes in Texas Congressional districts engineered by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Although the changes were made to maintain a Republican majority, the court ruled that with one exception, they were constitutionally acceptable.
By a slim 5-4 majority, the justices ruled that one district in particular was unconstitutional because it disenfranchised Hispanic voters.
However, the Republicans picked up six seats in Congress as a result of the formation of the new districts and the Supreme Court's decision will not threaten the new majority.
In a separate decision, the court ruled 7-2 that districts can be redrawn at any time, not just once every 10 year when there is a census.
'We reject the statewide challenge to Texas redistricting as an unconstitutional political gerrymander,' wrote Justice Anthony M. Kennedy.
The court's decision means that redistricting can take place any time there is a power shift in a state legislature.
