Representation and Apportionment
Apportionment is the process of dividing seats in the House of Representatives among the states according to population. The Constitution calls for a count of the people, and the census supplies it. Representation is the wider question of how well elected bodies reflect the people they serve, including how districts are sized and who is counted.
People usually ask how seats get divided among the states, how census results affect political power and the distribution of public money, who is included in the population count, and how apportionment connects to the drawing of district lines.
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All Articles on Representation and Apportionment
How the Census Shapes Political Power and Funding
See how census counts shape House seats, Electoral College votes, and federal funding, and which groups get undercounted most.
How Congressional Seats Are Divided Among the States
Learn how 435 U.S. House seats are divided among states after the 2020 census, using the method of equal proportions fixed since 1929.
What Excluding Undocumented Immigrants From the Census Would Change
The U.S. Constitution requires a national census every ten years for one fundamental purpose: to determine how political power is allocated among states in…
How the Census Determines Political Power
Every ten years, in years ending with zero, the United States undertakes one of democracy's most important tasks. The Decennial Census counts every person…
Redistricting and Gerrymandering: How Electoral Maps Shape Democracy
Every ten years, America redraws its electoral map. These aren't just lines on paper—they determine who represents you in Congress, who sits in your…