Final answer:
The number of representatives in the House is determined by population, as counted by the Census every ten years. Each state gets at least one representative, with more populous states receiving more. The House has been capped at 435 seats since 1929, which are apportioned among the states using a mathematical formula known as the equal proportions method.
Step-by-step explanation:
Apportionment in the House of Representatives
The process of determining the number of representatives each state receives in the House of Representatives is based on population. This population count is conducted by the United States Census Bureau and takes place every ten years. Every state is guaranteed at least one seat in the House. The Constitution's Section 2 Clause 3 mandates that representation in the House be based on apportionment, which is a proportional distribution based on population figures gathered through the National Census. As of the 1929 act, the total number of seats in the House of Representatives is capped at 435.
Congressional districts are drawn within states to represent approximately 700,000 citizens each. However, for states with populations not warranting more than one representative, a single district is established that encompasses the entire state. This apportionment system ensures the states are represented in Congress relative to their population size, although each state, regardless of population, maintains a minimum of one representative.
Following the results of the census, the reapportionment process may lead to some states gaining additional representatives if their populations have increased significantly, while states with declining or stagnant populations may lose seats. The equal proportions method, a mathematical formula, is used in this allocation process. The distribution of seats can significantly affect the political balance of power in the House, as seen in recent years with states like Texas, Florida, and California gaining seats, while states such as Pennsylvania have lost them.