It was said more than once in the days before last November's general election that "this election will determine the fate of working people in Michigan for the next 10 years."

It wasn't hype or an embellishment. Last week, the Michigan House and Senate approved the method in which Michigan's district lines will be drawn in a process that takes place after the completion of every 10-year census. With Republicans maintaining control of all portions of state government, including the Michigan Supreme Court, it was expected that they would re-draw or gerrymander lawmaker boundaries to allow the GOP to maintain its advantage for years to come on the state and federal level.

That's exactly what happened.

"Blind partisanship is what it is, and I would hope it would not prevail," said U.S. Rep. Sander Levin, whose district was combined with Rep. David Bonior, who is running for Michigan governor.

Here is what the re-drawn boundaries are expected to do on various levels of government.

Michigan congressional delegation.

The results of the U.S. Census revealed that Michigan gained population, but not as much in proportion to other states, especially compared to the Sun Belt. As a result, Michigan will lose one of its 16 seats in Congress. Republicans structured the new districts to give themselves a hoped-for 9-6 majority in that delegation, instead of the current 9-7 edge held by Dems.

"The claim is that this is based on neutral criteria," said Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer. "If you have a plan that results in a 9-6 Republican advantage, it's not neutral."

Democrats argue that the process shouldn't place their party at such a disadvantage, given the evenly matched numbers in the last election. Al Gore won 51 percent of the vote, and current U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow won her seat with the same margin last November.

The Republican plan moves boundaries to make it much easier for current Secretary of State Candice Miller to win the re-drawn district formerly held by Bonior in Macomb County.

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of Brighton, who squeaked by in winning his seat in Congress last November, got a substantially more Republican district in the redrawing process. The new plan will force Downriver Democratic Rep. John Dingell and Ann Arbor Congressional Democrat Lynn Rivers to vie for the same seat. U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee of Flint and James Barcia of Bay City will also be forced to fight for the same seat.

The Michigan Democratic Party is suing to have the lines re-drawn, and they're taking their case to federal court - knowing that they have little chance of winning in the Michigan Supreme Court. Candice Miller was the subject of the suit - it was alleged that the new plan violates the federal Voting Rights Act, which says states cannot discriminate against minorities when district boundaries are re-drawn.

The lawsuit may bring changes - The 1991-1992 congressional redistricting was ultimately done by a federal court, after it rejected plans put forward by the Democrats and by the Republicans as too partisan.

Michigan House of Representative -

This body is now controlled by a 57-52 Republican majority, and the gerrymandering process is expected to boost the GOP advantage to favor that party in as many as 63 districts.

The City of Detroit is a big loser in the process, reflecting its loss of population. A large portion of the east side of the city, for example, is expected to be placed in the district of a Grosse Pointe Republican.

"This is a blueprint for diluting minority voting districts," said Sen. Joseph Young, Jr., D-Detroit, providing for the argument in the court or appeals.

The Michigan Senate - It's expected to be equally bloody for Democrats in this chamber. Republicans currently enjoy a 22-15 majority, and analysts now say with luck, the GOP could gain as many as 25 seats. Republicans have so much control that they could afford to alienate their less-conservative members by moving boundaries that favor senators who are more conservative.

Statewide offices - Offices like Michigan governor, secretary of state, and attorney general won't be affected by redistricting.

Through all the speculation, in the political process, the right candidates have to be found, the right campaigns have to be run, and the voters in the newly formed districts have to vote the way the Republican gerrymanderers think they will. Things may not turn out the way they planned. Still… "The Republican Party owns the process this time around ... that's never happened before," said John Chamberlin, associate dean of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy in a published report. "They're going to get the chance to stack the deck for a decade."