How is representation determined in the House of Representatives?

How is representation determined in the House of Representatives?

• A. By population, with seats allocated based on state population.
• B. Each state has an equal number of representatives.
• C. Based on geographic size of the state.
• D. By lottery among states.

Answer: (A)

Representation in the House is determined by population. After each census, seats are apportioned among the states in proportion to how many people live there, with the total number of Representatives fixed at 435. States that gain people gain seats, while those with slower growth may lose seats or stay the same. Within each state, those seats are then divided into districts of roughly equal population so that every vote has about the same weight—a principle known as one person, one vote. This differs from equal representation by state (where every state would have the same number of representatives), representation by geographic size (which ignores population), or a lottery, none of which determine House seats.