Final answer:
The requirements for being a Representative outlined in Article I demonstrate the importance of representation by ensuring that the House accurately reflects the population it serves, thereby providing a safeguard against oppression and ensuring government responsiveness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The importance of representation within a government can be demonstrated through the requirements for being a Representative as outlined in Article I of the US Constitution. The rules specifying these requirements are vital because they ensure that the House of Representatives accurately reflects the population it serves.
Article I Section 2 Clause 3 of the US Constitution outlines that representation in the House is based on apportionment, meaning the number of representatives is determined by the state's population, with each state getting at least one representative. Apportionment is recalculated every ten years based on the national census. This method of determining representative numbers ensures that the interests of the people are represented proportionally, providing a safeguard against oppression and guaranteeing government responsiveness. While initially flawed with the inclusion of the three-fifths compromise, which counted slaves as three-fifths of a person, the underlying aim of these requirements was to balance representation among states of varying populations.
The concept of representation is also critical because it is not solely about numbers but about ensuring that representatives act in the best interests of their constituents, which may include paying close attention to their concerns or reflecting the constituency's ethnic, racial, or gender diversity.