Washington and other states that use citizens commissions rather than the Legislature to redraw congressional boundaries aren't running afoul of the U.S. Constitution, the Supreme Court ruled today. The court turned down a challenge to the Arizona boundaries by that state's Legislature, which argued the Constitution gives it the exclusive power to set boundaries. Through an initiative, Arizona voters had set up a commission to avoid gerrymandering of their districts. Voters have the authority to do that, the court ruled in a 5-4 decision. Through the initiative process, the voters are acting in a legislative capacity that co-exists with the Legislature, the justices said. Washington voters approved an amendment to the state constitution in 1983 to appoint a commission to redraw congressional and legislative boundaries each decade after the U.S. Census reports new population figures. One member is appointed by the leader of each caucus in each chamber of the Legislature, and those four members pick a chairman or chairwoman. The Legislature can approve or reject the new boundaries, but can't change them by more than 2 percent, and then only by a two-thirds majority. Although Washington's process wasn't directly involved in the case, Secretary of State Kim Wyman called the ruling "good news for Washington" because it affirms both the redistricting system and the "direct democracy" of the initiative process.

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