31.   Stepping into an explosive controversy, the narrow majority said states cannot use race as the sole criteria for drawing political district lines.

32.   That data will be used to redraw Congressional district lines within states and to allocate federal funds.

33.   That means the more accurate, adjusted figures can be used in drawing within each state the congressional, state and local legislative district lines.

34.   That would mean the Republicans could redraw the district lines next year so more of their candidates could win the meaningless, uncontested contests.

35.   The case has taken on new significance in light of recent Supreme Court rulings invalidating the use of race in drawing district lines.

36.   The congressional district lines are redrawn by state lawmakers after the census figures come out.

37.   The court needs to provide guidance on the degree to which legislators can take race into account in drawing district lines.

38.   The decision ran counter to a trend in federal courts, which had been moving away from ordering desegregation plans across these district lines.

39.   The congressional district lines, which the Legislature passed this month, do not yet have Justice Department clearance.

40.   The decision means that legislatures could preserve existing minority districts if they can show that the district lines are drawn on the basis of voting history, not race.