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2010 Census: The U.S. Census and the Amazing Apportionment Machine
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2010 Census: The U.S. Census and the Amazing Apportionment Machine

How Does the U.S. Census Impact Congressional Representation?

The Constitutional Mandate for the Census

  • The U.S. Constitution mandates a census to apportion representatives among states based on population, establishing a foundational principle for democratic representation.
  • Apportionment refers to dividing the 435 seats in the House of Representatives among the 50 states according to their respective populations.

Understanding the Apportionment Process

  • Since 1940, Congress has utilized a method called "equal proportions" for apportionment, which can be viewed as an "apportioning machine."
  • Each state is guaranteed at least one seat; thus, after allocating these initial 50 seats, there are 385 remaining seats to distribute based on population rankings.
  • The process involves re-ranking states after each seat distribution using a specific formula until all available seats are allocated.

Historical Context and Population Growth

  • This apportionment process ensures that congressional districts maintain roughly equal populations across states, promoting fair representation.
  • In historical context, in 1790 each House member represented about 34,000 people; by 2000, this number had increased significantly to an average of 647,000 per member.
  • The decennial census has been crucial since its inception in determining how representation is structured within the U.S. government.
Video description

Apportionment is the process of dividing the seats in the House of Representatives among the 50 states based on the population figures collected during the decennial census. The number of seats in the House has grown with the country. Congress sets the number in law and increased the number to 435 in 1913. The Constitution set the number of representatives at 65 from 1787 until the first Census of 1790, when the it was increased to 105 members. But how does apportionment actually work? Through animation, the U.S. Census Bureau helps explain how the apportionment formula is used to ensure equal representation for all, just like the Founding Fathers planned.