Final answer:
The U.S. Constitution addresses shifting populations by mandating the reapportionment of House seats based on decennial census data, ensuring proportional representation in Congress for each state. The 2010 census showed population growth in the South and West, leading to an increase in their congressional representation, while the Northeast and Midwest saw a decrease.
Step-by-step explanation:
How the Constitution Addresses Shifting Populations:
The United States Constitution addresses shifting populations primarily through the process of reapportionment, which is detailed in Article I, Section 2. This section of the Constitution mandates that representation in the House of Representatives must be apportioned based on the population of each state, which is determined through the decennial census. When the census shows that population growth has occurred, as observed in the South and West, those regions may gain additional representatives, while regions with decreased population, like the Northeast and Midwest, may lose representation. Since 1929, the number of House seats has been fixed at 435, and thus they are redistributed among the states after each census.
The 2010 census revealed that population growth had increased in the South and West, which meant that states in these regions, such as Texas, Florida, and California, gained additional congressional districts post-census. Conversely, states in the Northeast and Midwest that experienced population declines, such as Pennsylvania, lost some congressional representation. This system ensures that each state’s representation in Congress reflects its current population, maintaining proportional representation.
It is also important to note that the original constitutional framework included the three-fifths compromise, a method to count slaves for the purposes of representation and taxation, which was later repealed by the 14th Amendment following the Civil War. The Constitution’s provision for reapportionment reflects an intent to adapt to demographic changes over time, ensuring that the House of Representatives remains a body reflective of the nation’s population distribution. The U.S. Census Bureau plays a crucial role in this process by surveying the population to determine the accurate count needed for reapportionment.