When Democratic lawmakers fled Texas to try to prevent the Republican-led Legislature from redrawing the state's congressional districts, it marked the latest episode in a long national history of gerrymandering.
The word "gerrymander" was coined in America more than 200 years ago as an unflattering means of describing political manipulation in legislative map-making.
The word has stood the test of time, in part, because American politics has remained fiercely competitive.
Who is responsible for gerrymandering?
In many states, like Texas, the state legislature is responsible for drawing congressional districts, subject to the approval or veto of the governor. District maps must be redrawn every 10 years, after each census, to balance the population in districts.