COLUMBIA, S.C. - The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday approved new South Carolina House and Senate lines drawn this spring.

The plan, which was signed by the governor on June 2, makes changes to 55 of the state's 124 House districts, and to the 46 Senate districts.

The plan replaces maps drawn by federal judges after then-Democratic Gov. Jim Hodges vetoed new districts approved by the Republican-controlled General Assembly in 2001

Lawmakers supporting the new maps said the changes to the court-drawn lines eliminated split precincts.

But some of the state's eight black senators complained not enough was done to ensure black representation and did not like plans to concentrate black voters into large majority black districts.