(CNN) On the eve of the next census, which will trigger most legislatures across the country to draw new congressional district lines, the Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear two cases that could fundamentally impact how those maps are drawn.

In what could be one of the most consequential rulings of this term, the justices could, for the first time, establish a standard to decide when politicians go too far in drawing lines for partisan gain, or the court could slam the doors shut on such claims of extreme partisan gerrymandering.

"These cases are really about the representation we get in federal, state and local office all across the country," said Justin Levitt, a professor of law at Loyola Law School, who has signed a brief in support of the challengers.

Last term, all eyes were on Justice Anthony Kennedy, who many believed was on the verge -- for the first time -- of articulating a judicial standard that courts could use going forward. He was considered the swing vote. While the conservatives on the bench suggested the issue should be left to the political branches, Kennedy had been unwilling to bar all future claims of injury from partisan gerrymander.

But ultimately the court sidestepped the merits of the cases and Kennedy retired -- dashing the hopes of critics of extreme partisan gerrymandering, who thought he might be their last chance to stop politicians from illegally attempting to entrench power for one party over another.

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