Final answer:
The number of House representatives each state has is determined by its population, based on data from the U.S. Census conducted every ten years. Each state has a minimum of one representative, with more populous states having more. The total number of House seats has been fixed at 435 since 1929 but is apportioned differently among the states every decade. The correct answer is option (b).
Step-by-step explanation:
The number of representatives each state has in the House is determined by each state’s population. According to Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution, the allocation of seats in the United States House of Representatives is based on the apportionment of the population. Each state is guaranteed at least one representative, with additional seats allocated to states with larger populations. The population data used to determine the number of representatives is collected through the U.S. Census, which is conducted every ten years.
While there has been a fixed total of 435 representatives since the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929, the distribution of those seats among the states can change with each census as states gain or lose population. Legislative districts within states are also redrawn to reflect these population shifts. However, the total number of Electoral College votes (538) includes not only the 435 House representatives but also the 100 senators, plus three electors for the District of Columbia.