Final answer:
The size of congressional districts is directly tied to population density, with the intent being for each district to have a roughly equal number of constituents, currently about 700,000. The Apportionment Act of 1911 capped the number of representatives at 435, affecting the size-to-constituent ratio as the U.S. population grows. Population changes influence reapportionment and can affect political representation and electoral college votes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The connection between population density and the size of congressional districts is that districts are redrawn within a state based on its population, as determined by the United States Census conducted every ten years. States with higher populations have a greater number of representatives in the House of Representatives. Population density affects how these districts are outlined, ensuring that each district has approximately the same number of constituents, which today is about 700,000 individuals. However, with population growth and a fixed number of 435 representatives set by the Apportionment Act of 1911, the individual connection between a representative and their constituents has been stretched thin. The District of Columbia poses an additional challenge as its residents do not have voting representation in Congress.
Increasing constituency size and reapportionment issues arise as populations shift and grow, influencing electoral college votes and the political landscape. The need to maintain equal representation while avoiding overly large or ungovernable congressional bodies has led to the current configuration of congressional districts, with adjustments occurring through the reapportionment process subsequent to each decennial census.