Speech is civilization itself. The word, even the most contradictions word, preserves contact - it is silence which isolates.

Responsibility for overseeing the implementation of election law typically resides with partisan officials, many with public stakes in the election outcome.

While Republican voters have remained universally supportive of their President, Democrats and Independents are returning to a more naturally critical stance.

Congress requires states to draw single-member districts.

Redistricting is a deeply political process, with incumbents actively seeking to minimize the risk to themselves (via bipartisan gerrymanders) or to gain additional seats for their party (via partisan gerrymanders).

A healthy degree of party unity among Democrats and Republicans has deteriorated into bitter partisan warfare.

Beer soothes the upset soul.