NASHVILLE, TENN. — Tennessee lawmakers opened a special session on Monday in Nashville to redraw the state's congressional map. Hundreds of people protested at the Capitol ahead of the House and Senate floor sessions, with demonstrators arriving from Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville and other parts of the state.

Republicans currently control eight of the nine United States House seats in Tennessee. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling that effectively stripped protection of majority-minority districts cleared the way for lawmakers to redraw the District 9 seat around Memphis to favor Republicans.

Lawmakers spent less than an hour in their respective chambers during the first-day floor sessions, and the House recessed in less than 30 minutes. Only a few Democratic lawmakers spoke in the Senate to oppose the redistricting on the first day.

Earlier on day one, a House committee met to set the rules for the special session. The committee denied all Democratic rules packages, including requests for notice of proposed redistricting maps before a vote. The Republican-led rules package introduced by Rep. Clark Boyd passed the committee. It included a provision barring individuals removed from a gallery or committee room from returning on a different day during the special session. The committee used voice votes instead of the voting board to record each lawmaker's vote.

"That meeting was horrific because I found out they're not even using the voting boards. Instead of having a recorded vote from every member, they're using a voice vote. That's a total lack of transparency," Rep. Gloria Johnson said. She also said, "We're supposed to start voting tomorrow. We haven't seen the maps. Give us at least 24 hours before we know what's happening."

Immediately after the rules committee wrapped up, Democratic lawmakers held a press conference outside the Capitol. Republican lawmakers did not attend. "Weakening the collective voice of Tennesseans threatens our democracy," Rep. John Ray Clemmons said. "This is about every Tennessean's voting rights."

Lawmakers will reconvene Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. in the Senate and 9 a.m. in the House. The special session is expected to last at least through Thursday.