House of Representatives Seats Among the States in the United States

U.S. House of Representatives: House Membership Dividing Seats Among the States

Introduction to House of Representatives Seats Among the States

House seats are divided among the states by population in a process known as apportionment. After every ten-year national census, the U.S. Census Bureau uses a mathematical formula to assign a specific number of representatives to every state. Each state is guaranteed at least one House seat, and seven states-Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Vermont-have only one. There are also five nonvoting delegates who are elected from parts of the United States outside of the 50 states. These delegates represent American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands of the United States.

As the U.S. population shifts, states may gain or lose House seats. This process is known as reapportionment. Following the 2000 census, eight states gained seats and ten states lost seats. Arizona, Florida, Georgia, and Texas each gained two seats. California, Colorado, Nevada, and North Carolina gained one seat each. New York and Pennsylvania lost two seats each. Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin lost one seat each.

After the Census Bureau allocates House seats to reflect population changes, the states redraw their congressional districts to make the number of voters in each district roughly equal. This process, known as redistricting, frequently sparks bitter disputes between contending political parties. In most states, the state legislature controls the creation of new districts. Federal courts sometimes step into the reapportionment process, but state legislatures generally have broad authority. The party with the most seats in the state legislature tries to devise district boundaries that will favor that party in House elections. The majority party does this by drawing boundaries that spread its supporters over several districts, trying to ensure a majority of support in each. This makes it easier for the party to win House seats, but it sometimes results in contorted district boundaries. See Gerrymander.” (1)

Resources

Notes and References

• Information about House of Representatives Seats Among the States in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

Guide to House of Representatives Seats Among the States

About Voting

Voting Rights, Voter Participation, Election Redistricting, Electoral College (including Electoral College Selection, Counting the Votes, Electoral College Origins, Electoral College First Years, Electoral College History and the 12th Amendment, Disputed Elections of 1824 and 1876, Electoral College and the Influence of Political Parties, Winner-Take-All System, Debate Over the Electoral College and Electoral College Reform), Electorate Age and Electorate Constitutional Provisions.