consideration In developing the redistricting plan for the State, the independent redistricting commission may not take into consideration any of the following factors, except to the extent necessary to comply with the criteria described in paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a), subsection (b), and to enable the redistricting plan to be measured against the external metrics described in section 203(d): (1) The residence of any Member of the House of Representatives or candidate. (2) The political party affiliation or voting history of the population of a district. (d) Applicability This section applies to any authority, whether appointed, elected, judicial, or otherwise, that designs or enacts a congressional redistricting plan of a State. (e) Severability of criteria If any of the criteria set forth in this section, or the application of such criteria to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remaining criteria set forth in this section, and the application of such criteria to any person or circumstance, shall not be affected by the holding. II Independent Redistricting Commissions 201. Independent redistricting commission (a) Appointment of members (1) In general The nonpartisan agency established or designated by a State under section 204(a) shall establish an independent redistricting commission for the State, which shall consist of 15 members appointed by the agency as follows: (A) Not later than October 1 of a year ending in the numeral zero, the agency shall, at a public meeting held not earlier than 15 days after notice of the meeting has been given to the public, first appoint 6 members as follows: (i) The agency shall appoint 2 members on a random basis from the majority category of the approved selection pool (as described in section 202(b)(1)(A)). (ii) The agency shall appoint 2 members on a random basis from the minority category of the approved selection pool (as described in section 202(b)(1)(B)). (iii) The agency shall appoint 2 members on a random basis from the