Under the new redistricting maps, Republicans could have a super-majority in both chambers of the state legislature after the 2012 general election. A super-majority makes it easier for the ruling party to amend the state’s constitution.

Voters still have to sign off on any proposed constitutional changes through a ballot referendum.

But the party with a super-majority is in a better position to pass amendments. And it can also override a veto from the Governor.

That’s because a supermajority could give a party two-thirds of the votes in each chamber necessary for these maneuvers.

Kennesaw State University professor Kerwin Swint says a supermajority, however, doesn’t guarantee anything.

“It just means if Republicans, for example, were all behind a potential change – if they had a high degree of unity --- then they could do it on their own without the minority party," he said in a phone interview. "But it doesn’t mean there are going to be a lot of changes. In fact, it may be hard to get agreement among Republicans for some of things that might come up.”

William Perry of the watchdog group Common Cause Georgia says a super-majority is essentially one party making decisions:

“Anytime you have one-party control, it raises concerns for everyone because there are people who are in the middle or to the other side who never have a voice," he said. "So if there’s one party control, there’s less debate and votes are more along partisan lines.”

Perry says the eventuality would just solidify trends from the redistricting session that wrapped up last week. Specifically, he says Republican lawmakers drew districts that have a solid majority of voters in one party or the other. That will makes future elections less competitive because one party already has a clear advantage.

Perry is part of a broad redistricting alliance that has pushed for an independent redistricting commission. He said districts are naturally diverse because people don't buy homes strictly along party lines.

State leaders plan to submit the new redistricting maps to the federal government by Oct. 1. Under the Voting Rights Act, the U.S. Department of Justice must approve any changes to the state’s election maps.

Tags: redistricting, Republican super-majority, super-majority