The House of Representatives Size and Terms 435

The House of Representatives

Size and Terms • 435 members of the House of Representatives – apportioned by Congress among the states according to state population • First Congress had 65 seats • Each state has at least one – AK, DE, MT, ND, SD, VT, WY • Members serve a 2 year term – unlimited

Reapportionment • The Constitution says Congress must reapportion the seats after each census (10 yrs) • By 1910, there were 435 members – It was too large to be very effective • Congress didn’t do anything about it until 1929

• The Reapportionment Act of 1929 – 1) “permanent” size of House is 435 (each member represents an average of 650, 000 people – 2) after each census, the Census Bureau determines how many seats each state has – 3) their plan must be sent to Congress – 4) if neither house rejects it within 60 days, it becomes effective

Elections • Since 1842, all Representatives are elected from “single-member” districts – Each candidate runs for a certain district within their state – State legislatures are responsible for drawing districts within their own state. – Each district must be: • Close in population size • A relatively small area

– These requirements have often been ignored by state legislators and not enforced by Congress • Gerrymandering = drawing district lines to the advantage of the political party that controls the state legislature – Two forms: • 1) concentrate opposition’s voters in a few districts as possible, leaving the other districts safe for the dominant party (packing)

• 2) spread the opposition as thinly as possible among several districts limiting their ability to win in any district (cracking) – Also, most state legislatures were dominated by rural areas instead of city areas so areas were carved up to give rural people more power

• Wesberry v. Sanders (1964) – Supreme Court said that the populations differences among Georgia’s district were so great it violated the Constitution – This reinforced the idea that populations had to be close to equal in each district

Qualifications • The Constitution says House members: – 1) must be at least 25 – 2) have been a US citizen for 7 years – 3) must live in the state they are elected from • Custom says they must live in the district they represent

• The House may refuse to “seat” a member-elect by majority vote (if they don’t meet qualifications) • They may punish them for “disorderly behavior” • They may expel them with a 2/3 vote

• Informal qualifications (have to do with a candidate’s vote -getting abilities): – – – Party identification Name familiarity Gender Ethnicity Political experience • The “right” combination of these can help them get elected • The “wrong” combination will help them be defeated