II. III. B. Standard of Review of Redistricting Process ...........................38 C. Standards Imposed by FairDistricts Amendments ...................42 1. Tier-One Prohibitions Against Partisan Gerrymandering and Dilution of Minority Voting Strength ...........................................................................43 2. Tier-Two Requirements of Compactness and Respecting Political and Geographic Boundaries ..........51 3. How the Tiers Interact ....................................................52 4. Relevance of Alternative Maps ......................................53 The Legislature’s 2012 Congressional Plan and the Revised Plans Are Unconstitutional..................................................................54 A. The Plan as a Whole Is Unconstitutional. .................................55 B. Several Specific Districts Are Independently Unconstitutional ........................................................................62 1. District 5 and Surrounding Districts ...............................62 2. Districts 13 and 14 ..........................................................79 3. Districts 21 and 22 ..........................................................84 4. District 25 .......................................................................87 5. Districts 26 and 27 ..........................................................89 Because the Legislature Has Twice Failed to Draw Constitutional Districts, the Court Should Craft a Meaningful Remedy. ...............................................................................................94 A. The Court Has the Authority—and Obligation—to Formulate and Adopt a Constitutionally Valid Redistricting Plan. .....................................................................94 B. Alternatively, the Court Should Assist the Legislature So That It Can Adopt a Constitutional Apportionment Plan. ........97 ii