Session Laws

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. The General Court hereby finds and declares that on February twentieth, nineteen hundred and ninety-two a federal court decided Commonwealth of Massachusetts et al. v. Mosbacher et al. (Civil Action No. 91-11234-WD, D. MA.) In this case, a three judge panel directed the Commonwealth to certify a new congressional district plan for eleven congressional seats by March thirtieth, nineteen hundred and ninety-two.

Commonwealth v. Mosbacher was based on the finding that the United States Bureau of the Census improperly counted federal personnel living overseas in the 1990 federal decennial census for the purpose of apportioning population among the states. Inclusion of these personnel based on so-called "home of record" data caused Massachusetts to lose one congressional district in the original apportionment of the United States House of Representatives.

The court found that the inclusion these overseas personnel, based on such data, violated provisions of the federal Administrative Procedures act as arbitrary and capricious and an abuse of discretion.

SECTION 2. Chapter 57 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 1, as appearing in the 1990 Official Edition and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 1. For the purpose of electing representatives in the Congress of the United States and delegates and alternate delegates to the national conventions of political parties, until otherwise provided by law, the commonwealth is divided into the following eleven districts, each of which shall elect one representative:

NUMBER ONE - The Counties of Berkshire and Franklin; in the County of Hampden the cities of Holyoke and Westfield, and the towns of Agawam, Blandford, Chester, East Longmeadow, Granville, Hampden, Longmeadow, Montgomery, Russell, Southwick, Tolland, West Springfield, Wilbraham (including Precinct D, VTD 0785, Tract 813602, Blocks 303-306, 310-332, 504, 514, 920, 922, 923 and 935); in the County of Hampshire the towns of Amherst, Belchertown, Chesterfield, Cummington, Easthampton, Goshen, Granby, Hatfield, Huntington, Middlefield, Pelham, Plainfield, Southampton, Ware, Westhampton, Williamsburg and Worthington; in the County of Worcester the city of Gardner and the towns of Ashburnham, Athol, Phillipston, Royalston, Templeton and Winchendon.

NUMBER TWO - In the County of Hampden the cities of Chicopee and Springfield, and the towns of Brimfield, Holland, Ludlow, Monson, Palmer, Wales, Wilbraham (including Precinct A, VTD 0770; Precinct B, VTD 0775; Precinct C, VTD 0780; Precinct D, VTD 0785, Tract 813602, Block Group 2, Blocks 301, 302, 307-309, 502, 505-513, 918, 9l9 and 933); in the County of Hampshire the city of Northampton, and the towns of Hadley and South Hadley; in the County of Worcester the cities of Fitchburg and Leominster, and the towns of Barre, Brookfield, Charlton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Hardwick, Hubbardston, New Braintree, Northbridge, North Brookfield, Oxford, Petersham, Southbridge, Spencer (including Precinct 1, VTD 0610, Tract 7261, Blocks 209, 210, 220, 221, 303, 314 and 322, and Tract 7262; Precinct 2, VTD 0615; Precinct 3, VTD 0620, Tract 7261, Block Group 4, Blocks l18, l19, 128, l29, 134, 139, 140, 508-518, 520, 522-532, and Tract 7262), Sturbridge, Uxbridge, Warren, Webster, West Brookfield and Westminster.

NUMBER THREE - In the County of Middlesex the city of Marlborough, and the towns of Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Sherborn, Stow (including VTD 2415, Tract 3231, Blocks 404-423, 431, 432, 434-439, 451-456, 505, 506A, 506B, and 508-529); in the County of Norfolk the towns of Bellingham, Franklin, Medway (including Precinct 1, VTD 0345, Tract 408101, Blocks 809, 810, 812-818, 820, and 903-907); in the County of Worcester the city of Worcester, and the towns of Auburn, Berlin, Blackstone, Bolton, Boylston, Clinton, Grafton, Harvard, Holden, Hopedale, Lancaster, Leicester, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northborough, Oakham, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Spencer (including Precinct 1, VTD 0610, Tract 7261, Blocks 201-203, 204A, 204B, 205-208, 301, 302, 304-313, 316, 318-321; Precinct 3, VTD 0620, Tract 7261, Blocks 101-117, 120-127, 130-133, 135-138, 501-507, 519, 521, 533-535), Sterling, Sutton, Upton, Westborough, and West Boylston.

NUMBER FOUR - In the County of Bristol the cities of Attleboro, Fall River, and New Bedford (including Ward 1, Precinct A, VTD 0365, Precinct B, VTD 0370, Precinct C, VTD 0375, Precinct D, VTD 0380, Precinct E, VTD 0385, Precinct F, VTD 0390, and Precinct G, VTD 0395; Ward 2, Precinct A, VTD 0400, Tract 6507, Precinct B, VTD 0405, Tract 6507, Block Groups 2 and 3, Blocks 101-104, Precinct C, VTD 0410, Precinct D, VTD 0415, Precinct E, VTD 0420, Precinct F, VTD 0425, Tract 6508, Blocks 102, 104, 106, 107, and 203-209, and Precinct G, VTD 0430; Ward 3, Precinct C, VTD 0445, Tract 650202, Blocks 612 and 613, and Precinct G, VTD 0465, Tract 6509, Blocks 403 and 404), and the towns of Dartmouth (including Ward 0, Precinct 1, VTD 0080, Tract 6531, Blocks 902-906, 908, 909, 925, 930-932, 937 and 938), Mansfield, North Attleborough, Norton, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, and Swansea; in the County of Middlesex the city of Newton; in the County of Norfolk the towns of Brookline, Dover, Foxborough, Medfield, Medway (including Precinct 1, VTD 0345, Tract 408101, Block Group 1, Blocks 801-808, 811, 819, 901 and 902, and Tract 408102; Precinct 2, VTD 0350, Precinct 3, VTD 0355), Millis, Norfolk, Plainville, Sharon, Walpole, Wellesley and Wrentham.

NUMBER FIVE - In the County of Essex the city of Lawrence and the towns of Andover, Boxford, Methuen and North Andover; in the County of Middlesex the city of Lowell, and the towns of Acton, Ashby, Ayer, Boxborough, Carlisle (including VTD 2395, Tract 3621, Blocks 909, 910, 912, 926, 927, 931, 933, 938, 939, 941-946, 948, 949, 951, 965-969, and Tract 363102), Chelmsford, Concord, Dracut, Dunstable, Framingham, Groton, Littleton, Maynard, Pepperell, Shirley, Stow (including VTD 2415, Tract 3221, Tract 3231 - including Block Groups 1, 2, 3 and 9, Blocks 401-403, 424-430, 433, 440-449, 450A, 450B, 501-504, and 507), Sudbury, Townsend, Tyngsborough, and Westford; in the County of Worcester the town of Lunenburg.

NUMBER SIX - In the County of Essex the cities of Beverly, Gloucester, Haverhill, Lynn, Newburyport, Peabody, and Salem, and the towns of Amesbury, Danvers, Essex, Georgetown, Groveland, Hamilton, Ipswich, Lynnfield, Manchester, Marblehead, Merrimac, Middleton, Nahant, Newbury, Rockport, Rowley, Salisbury, Saugus, Swampscott, Topsfield, Wenham, and West Newbury; in the County of Middlesex the towns of North Reading, Reading, and Wilmington (including Precinct 3, VTD 2255, Tract 331102, Block Group 3, Blocks 210, 211, 213, 215-222, 224-241, 243, 244, Tract 3313, Blocks 206, 209, 212, 214-220; Precinct 4, VTD 2260; Precinct 5, VTD 2265 and Precinct 6, VTD 2270).

NUMBER SEVEN - In the County of Middlesex the cities of Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, and Woburn, and the towns of Bedford, Billerica, Burlington, Carlisle (including VTD 2395, Tract 3621, Blocks 901-908, 911, 913-925, 928-930, 932, 934-937, 940, 947, 950, 952-964), Lexington, Lincoln, Natick (including Precinct 1, VTD 1510; Precinct 2, VTD 1515; Precinct 3, VTD 1520; Precinct 4, VTD 1525, Tract 3822, Block Group 4, Blocks 501-505 and Tract 3825 - including Block Group 3, Blocks 204-210, 212-216, 218, and 223; Precinct 5, VTD 1530; Precinct 8, VTD 1545, Tract 3824, Block Groups 2 and 3, Blocks 105-115, 121-123, Tract 3825 - including Block Group 3; Precinct 10, VTD 1555), Stoneham, Tewksbury, Wakefield, Wayland, Wilmington (including Precinct 1, VTD 2245, Precinct 2, VTD 2250, Precinct 3, VTD 2255, Tract 331102, Blocks 223 and 242, and Tract 3313 - including Blocks 201-204, 207, 208, and 221), and Winchester; in the County of Suffolk the cities of Chelsea and Revere, and the town of Winthrop.

NUMBER EIGHT - In the County of Middlesex the cities of Cambridge, Somerville, and Waltham, and the towns of Arlington, Belmont, Natick (including Precinct 4, VTD 1525, Tract 3822, Blocks 506-519, and Tract 3825 - including Blocks 211 and 217; Precinct 6, VTD 1535; Precinct 7, VTD 1540; Precinct 8, VTD 1545, Tract 3824, Blocks 101-104, and 119, and Tract 3825 - including Block Group 2; Precinct 9, VTD 1550), Watertown and Weston; in the County of Suffolk the city of Boston (including Ward 1, Precinct 1, VTD 0005, Precinct 2, VTD 0010, Precinct 3, VTD 0015, Precinct 4, VTD 0020, Precinct 5, VTD 0025, Precinct 6, VTD 0030, Precinct 7, VTD 0035, Precinct 8, VTD 0040, Precinct 9, VTD 0045, Precinct 10, VTD 0050, Precinct 11, VTD 0055, Precinct 12, VTD 0060, Precinct 13, VTD 0065, Precinct 14, VTD 0070; Ward 2, Precinct 1, VTD 0075, Precinct 2, VTD 0080, Precinct 3, VTD 0085, Precinct 4, VTD 0090, Precinct 5, VTD 0095, Precinct 6, VTD 0100, Precinct 7, VTD 0105; Ward 3, Precinct 5, VTD 0130; Ward 4, Precinct 1, VTD 0150, Precinct 2, VTD 0155, Precinct 3, VTD 0160, Precinct 4, VTD 0165, Precinct 5, VTD 0l70, Precinct 6, VTD 0175, Precinct 7, VTD 0180, Precinct 8, VTD 0185, Precinct 9, VTD 0190, Precinct 10, VTD 0195; Ward 5, Precinct 1, VTD 0200, Precinct 2, VTD 0205, Precinct 3, VTD 0210, Precinct 4, VTD 0215, Precinct 5, VTD 0220, Precinct 6, VTD 0225, Precinct 7, VTD 0230, Precinct 8, VTD 0235, Precinct 9, VTD 0240, Precinct 10, VTD 0245; Ward 21, Precinct 1, VTD 1120, Precinct 2, VTD 1125, Precinct 3, VTD 1130, Precinct 4, VTD 1135, Precinct 5, VTD 1140, Precinct 6, VTD 1145, Precinct 7, VTD 1150, Precinct 8, VTD 1155, Precinct 9, VTD 1160, Precinct 10, VTD 1165, Precinct 11, VTD 1170, Precinct 12, VTD 1175, Precinct 13, VTD 1180, Precinct 14, VTD 1185, Precinct 15, VTD 1190, Precinct 16, VTD 1195; Ward 22, Precinct 1, VTD 1200, Precinct 2, VTD 1205, Precinct 3, VTD 1210, Precinct 4, VTD 1215, Precinct 5, VTD 1220, Precinct 6, VTD 1225, Precinct 7, VTD 1230, Precinct 8, VTD 1235, Precinct 9, VTD 1240, Precinct 10, VTD 1245, Precinct 11, VTD 1250, Precinct 12, VTD 1255, Precinct 13, VTD 1260; BOSTON WDXPCTX REM.CO. BOSTON HA, VTD 1430).

NUMBER NINE - In the County of Bristol the City of Taunton, and the towns of Berkley, Dighton, Easton (including Ward 0, Precinct 1, VTD 0130; Precinct 2, VTD 0135, Tract 6001, Blocks 212, 304-306, 308, 309, 314, 316, and 317, and Tract 600201, Precinct 3, VTD 0140, Tract 6001, Block 501, Tract 600201, and Tract 600202 - including Blocks 123-126; Precinct 4, VTD 0145, Tract 600201 and Tract 600202 - including Blocks 205, 206, 303, and 305-311; and Precinct 5, VTD 0150), and Raynham; in the County of Norfolk the towns of Canton, Dedham, Needham, Norwood, Stoughton, and Westwood; in the County of Plymouth the towns of Bridgewater and Lakeville; in the County of Suffolk the city of Boston (including Ward 3, Precinct 1, VTD 0110, Precinct 2, VTD 0115, Precinct 3, VTD 0120, Precinct 4, VTD 0125, Precinct 6, VTD 0135, Precinct 7, VTD 0140, and Precinct 8, VTD 0145; Ward 6, Precinct 1, VTD 0250, Precinct 2, VTD 0255, Precinct 3, VTD 0260, Precinct 4, VTD 0265, Precinct 5, VTD 0270, Precinct 6, VTD 0275, Precinct 7, VTD 0280, Precinct 8, VTD 0285, and Precinct 9, VTD 0290; Ward 7, Precinct 1, VTD 0295, Precinct 2, VTD 0300, Precinct 3, VTD 0305, Precinct 4, VTD 0310, Precinct 5, VTD 0315, Precinct 6, VTD 0320, Precinct 7, VTD 0325, Precinct 8, VTD 0330, Precinct 9, VTD 0335, and Precinct 10, VTD 0340; Ward 8, Precinct 1, VTD 0345, Precinct 2, VTD 0350, Precinct 3, VTD 0355, Precinct 4, VTD 0360, Precinct 5, VTD 0365, Precinct 6, VTD 0370, and Precinct 7, VTD 0375; Ward 9, Precinct 1, VTD 0380, Precinct 2, VTD 0385, Precinct 3, VTD 0390, Precinct 4, VTD 0395, and Precinct 5, VTD 0400; Ward 10, Precinct 1, VTD 0405, Precinct 2, VTD 0410, Precinct 3, VTD 0415, Precinct 4, VTD 0420, Precinct 5, VTD 0425, Precinct 6, VTD 0430, Precinct 7, VTD 0435, Precinct 8, VTD 0440, and Precinct 9, VTD 0445; Ward 11, Precinct 1, VTD 0450, Precinct 2, VTD 0455, Precinct 3, VTD 0460, Precinct 4, VTD 0465, Precinct 5, VTD 0470, Precinct 6, VTD 0475, Precinct 7, VTD 0480, Precinct 8, VTD 0485, Precinct 9, VTD 0490, and Precinct 10, VTD 0495; Ward 12, Precinct 1, VTD 0500, Precinct 2, VTD 0505, Precinct 3, VTD 0510, Precinct 4, VTD 0515, Precinct 5, VTD 0520, Precinct 6, VTD 0525, Precinct 7, VTD 0530, Precinct 8, VTD 0535, and Precinct 9, VTD 0540; Ward 13, Precinct 1, VTD 0545, Precinct 2, VTD 0550, Precinct 3, VTD 0555, Precinct 4, VTD 0560, Precinct 5, VTD 0565, Precinct 6, VTD 0570, Precinct 7, VTD 0575, Precinct 8, VTD 0580, Precinct 9, VTD 0585, and Precinct 10, VTD 0590; Ward 14, Precinct 1, VTD 0595, Precinct 2, VTD 0600, Precinct 3, VTD 0605, Precinct 4, VTD 0610, Precinct 5, VTD 0615, Precinct 6, VTD 0620, Precinct 7, VTD 0625, Precinct 8, VTD 0630, Precinct 9, VTD 0635, Precinct 10, VTD 0640, Precinct 11, VTD 0645, Precinct 12, VTD 0650, Precinct 13, VTD 0655, and Precinct 14, VTD 0660; Ward 15, Precinct 1, VTD 0665, Precinct 2, VTD 0670, Precinct 3, VTD 0675, Precinct 5, VTD 0685, and Precinct 7, VTD 0695; Ward 17, Precinct 1, VTD 0770, Precinct 2, VTD 0775, Precinct 3, VTD 0780 - including Tract 0920, Tract 0922, Blocks 503-507, Tract 0923, and Tract 1005, Precinct 5, VTD 0790, Precinct 6, VTD 0795, Tract 0922, Block 406, Precinct 7, VTD 0800, Precinct 8, VTD 0805, Precinct 10, VTD 0815; Ward 18, Precinct 2, VTD 0845, Precinct 3, VTD 0850, Precinct 4, VTD 0855, Precinct 5, VTD 0860, Precinct 6, VTD 0865, and Precinct 21, VTD 0940; Ward 19, Precinct 1, VTD 0955, Precinct 2, VTD 0960, Precinct 3, VTD 0965, Precinct 4, VTD 0970, Precinct 5, VTD 0975, Precinct 6, VTD 0980, Precinct 7, VTD 0985, Precinct 8, VTD 0990, Precinct 9, VTD 0995, Precinct 10, VTD 1000, Precinct 11, VTD 1005, Precinct 12, VTD 1010, and Precinct 13, VTD 1015; Ward 20, Precinct 1, VTD 1020, Precinct 2, VTD 1025, Precinct 3, VTD 1030, Precinct 4, VTD 1035, Precinct 5, VTD 1040, Precinct 6, VTD 1045, Precinct 7, VTD 1050, Precinct 8, VTD 1055, Precinct 9, VTD 1060, Precinct 10, VTD 1065, Precinct 11, VTD 1070, Precinct 12, VTD 1075, Precinct 13, VTD 1080, Precinct 14, VTD 1085, Precinct 15, VTD 1090, Precinct 16, VTD 1095, Precinct 17, VTD 1100, Precinct 18, VTD 1105, Precinct 19, VTD 1110, and Precinct 20, VTD 1115.

NUMBER TEN - The County of Barnstable; in the County of Bristol the city of New Bedford (including Ward 2, Precinct A, VTD 0400, Tract 6512, Precinct B, VTD 0405, Tract 6507, Block 108, Precinct F, VTD 0425, Tract 6508, Block Group 3, and Blocks 103 and 201, and Tract 6512; Ward 3, Precinct A, VTD 0435, Precinct B, VTD 0440, Precinct C, VTD 0445, Tract 650202, Blocks 620 and 621, Tract 6508, Tract 6509, and Tract 6512, Precinct D, VTD 0450, Precinct E, VTD 0455, Precinct F, VTD 0460, and Precinct G, VTD 0465, Tract 6509, Block Groups 2 and 3, Blocks 401, 402, 405, 408, and 412-417, and Tract 651001; Ward 4, Precinct A, VTD 0470, Precinct B, VTD 0475, Precinct C, VTD 0480, Precinct D, VTD 0485, Precinct E, VTD 0490, Precinct F, VTD 0495, and Precinct G, VTD 0500; Ward 5, Precinct A, VTD 0505, Precinct B, VTD 0510, Precinct C, VTD 0515, Precinct D, VTD 0520, Precinct E, VTD 0525, Precinct F, VTD 0530, and Precinct G, VTD 0535; Ward 6, Precinct A, VTD 0540, Precinct B, VTD 0545, Precinct C, VTD 0550, Precinct D, VTD 0555, Precinct E, VTD 0560, Precinct F, VTD 0565, and Precinct G, VTD 0570), and the towns of Dartmouth (including Ward 0, Precinct 1, VTD 0080, Tract 6531, Block Group 6, Blocks 907, 910-915, 923, 924, 934-936, 939-942, 947-952, Precinct 2, VTD 0085, Precinct 3, VTD 0090, Precinct 4, VTD 0095, Precinct 5, VTD 0100, Precinct 6, VTD 0105, Precinct 7, VTD 0110, Precinct 8, VTD 0115, Precinct 9, VTD 0120, and Precinct 10, VTD 0125), Fairhaven, and Westport; the County of Dukes; the County of Nantucket; in the County of Norfolk the town of Cohasset; in the County of Plymouth the towns of Duxbury, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Marion, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton (including VTD 0640, Tract 5431, Blocks 214-216, and 218-221), Scituate and Wareham.

NUMBER ELEVEN - In the County of Bristol the towns of Acushnet, Easton (including Ward 0, Precinct 2, VTD 0135, Tract 6001, Blocks 201-211, 213-216, 227, 228, 303, 307, 315 and 322, and Tract 600202, Precinct 3, VTD 0140, Tract 6001, Blocks 502-505, Tract 600202 - including Blocks 101-112, 114, 115, 120-122, 127, and 128, Precinct 4, VTD 0145, Tract 600202, Blocks 201-204, 301, 302 and 304), and Freetown; in the County of Norfolk the city of Quincy, and the towns of Avon, Braintree, Holbrook, Milton, Randolph and Weymouth; in the County of Plymouth the city of Brockton and the towns of Abington, Carver, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Middleborough, Plympton (including VTD 0640, Tract 5431, Block Group 1, Blocks 201-213, 217, and 222-232), Rochester, Rockland, West Bridgewater and Whitman; in the County of Suffolk the city of Boston (including Ward 15, Precinct 4, VTD 0680, Precinct 6, VTD 0690, Precinct 8, VTD 0700, and Precinct 9, VTD 0705; Ward 16, Precinct 1, VTD 0710, Precinct 2, VTD 0715, Precinct 3, VTD 0720, Precinct 4, VTD 0725, Precinct 5, VTD 0730, Precinct 6, VTD 0735, Precinct 7, VTD 0740, Precinct 8, VTD 0745, Precinct 9, VTD 0750, Precinct 10, VTD 0755, Precinct 11, VTD 0760, and Precinct 12, VTD 0765; Ward 17, Precinct 3, VTD 0780, Tract 0922, Block Group 2, Block 508, Precinct 4, VTD 0785, Precinct 6, VTD 0795, Tract 0922, Block Groups 3 and 5, Blocks 401-405, and 407, and Tract 1005, Precinct 9, VTD 0810, Precinct 11, VTD 0820, Precinct 12, VTD 0825, Precinct 13, VTD 0830, and Precinct 14, VTD 0835; Ward 18, Precinct 1, VTD 0840, Precinct 7, VTD 0870, Precinct 8, VTD 0875, Precinct 9, VTD 0880, Precinct 10, VTD 0885, Precinct 11, VTD 0890, Precinct 12, VTD 0895, Precinct 13, VTD 0900, Precinct 14, VTD 0905, Precinct 15, VTD 0910, Precinct 16, VTD 0915, Precinct 17, VTD 0920, Precinct 18, VTD 0925, Precinct 19, VTD 0930, Precinct 20, VTD 0935, Precinct 22, VTD 0945, Precinct 23, VTD 0950.

For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:-

"Voting tabulation districts" or "VTD", areas identified by the state to the United States Bureau of the Census as a voting district.

"Tract", a large statistical area used by the United States Bureau of the Census. A tract is a large group of blocks.

"Block group", a set of census blocks identified by the same first digit.

"Blocks", the smallest census reporting area.

In the event of a discrepancy in congressional district descriptions between references to wards and precincts and "VTD", the "VTD" references shall govern.

SECTION 2A. Any costs incurred by the various cities and towns due to revisions of the new congressional districts contained in section two shall be borne by the commonwealth.

SECTION 3. To meet the strict federal constitutional standard of population equality between congressional districts, it was necessary to split voting precincts in some cities and towns into more than one congressional district. Since this poses significant problems for local election administration, as few precincts as possible were split to meet the strict one person, one vote standard therefore every city or town which contains a voting precinct located in more than one congressional district shall divide that precinct along the congressional district boundary into two precincts, or aggregate a portion of that precinct with a contiguous precinct in the same city or town and in that congressional district. Any such resulting precinct or precincts shall be exempt from the provisions of sections one, two, and six of chapter fifty-four of the General Laws, and shall not be used for elections of members of a representative town meeting. If the polling place for such a new precinct is located in the same building, as for an existing precinct, no additional election officers need be appointed for such new precinct. Each city or town required by this section to create a precinct or aggregate a voting precinct shall, no later than April first, nineteen hundred and ninety-two, complete this re-precincting process by vote of its city council or board of selectmen, and provide written notice to the state secretary of the number of precincts and aggregate precincts provided for in this section.

SECTION 4. The supreme judicial court shall have jurisdiction of any petition for a writ of mandamus relative to the establishment of congressional districts under section two of this act.

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon its passage.