When Census 2000 statistics were released in 2001, they showed that California's Anglo population is no longer a majority. From 1990 to 2000, the Latino population increased by 3.3 million, accounting for 80 percent of the state's population growth. But has this population increase been matched by commensurate representation in Sacramento and in Congress? In February this year, The Club's Voices of Reform Project convened a panel to examine the impact of redistricting on the state's minority communities. Panelists revealed that while Latinos have made significant gains - seven Latinos served in the California Legislature in 1991; today, that number is close to 30 - the more dispersed African-American population has not. Panelists also point out that, given the opportunity to participate in the drawing of political boundaries for their communities, ordinary citizens construct districts that look very different from those created by legislators trying to safeguard incumbency.

Summary by Commonwealth Club staff.

Bruce Cain, Director of the Institute for Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley, moderates.