Malcolm Rivera
The United States House of Representatives is one of two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the US Senate. The number of voting representatives in the House is fixed by law at no more than 435, with each state receiving a minimum of one representative. The number of representatives per state is proportionate to the population of the 50 states. The House's composition was established by Article One of the United States Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of members | 435 |
| Membership basis | Population of each individual state |
| Term | Two years |
| Minimum age | 25 years |
| Citizenship requirement | Citizen of the United States for at least seven years |
| Residency requirement | Inhabitant of the state they represent |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution states there should be no more than 1 representative per 30,000 citizens, with a maximum of 435 representatives
- The number of representatives per state is proportional to the population
- Representatives must be at least 25 years old, have been a US citizen for at least 7 years, and be an inhabitant of the state they represent
- The House represents citizens based on district populations, while the Senate represents citizens on an equal state basis
- The House of Representatives elects a speaker, who acts as the leader of the House
The US Constitution states there should be no more than 1 representative per 30,000 citizens, with a maximum of 435 representatives
The US Constitution outlines the rules and functions of the House of Representatives, one of Congress's two chambers. The House is responsible for making and passing federal laws, and its members are chosen every second year by the people of the various states. The Constitution states that there should be no more than one representative for every 30,000 citizens, with each state guaranteed at least one representative. This rule reflects the principle of representation based on population, which was agreed upon by the framers of the Constitution as part of The Great Compromise.
The maximum number of representatives was set at 435 in 1911 through Public Law 62-5, taking into account population growth. This number has been maintained proportionally to represent the population of the 50 states. However, there was a temporary increase to 437 when Alaska and Hawaii were admitted, which returned to 435 after the 1960 census.
The House's legislative processes are overseen by the speaker of the House, who is elected by its members. The speaker is supported by majority and minority leaders, assistant leaders, and whips. The House also has standing committees that consider bills, issues, and recommend measures for the House's consideration. These committees have oversight responsibilities to monitor agencies, programs, and activities within their jurisdictions.
To be eligible for election to the House of Representatives, a person must be at least 25 years old, have been a US citizen for at least seven years, and be a resident of the state they represent at the time of election. The House, along with the Senate, also has the power to judge the elections, returns, and qualifications of its members.
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The number of representatives per state is proportional to the population
The number of voting representatives in the House of Representatives is fixed by law at no more than 435, with each representative serving a two-year term. The number of representatives per state is proportional to the population, with each member of the House representing a set number of constituents. This is referred to as "proportional representation", which was established as part of the "Great Compromise".
The Great Compromise was an agreement that emerged from a stalemate during the Constitutional Convention, which teetered on the brink of dissolution. It created a bicameral legislature with a House, where membership was determined by state population, and a Senate, where each state had equal representation with two seats regardless of population. This compromise also led to the Permanent Seat of Government Act, which established the nation's federal capital in Washington, DC.
The Constitution provides for proportional representation in the House of Representatives, and the seats are apportioned based on state population according to the constitutionally mandated decennial census. The census, conducted every 10 years, enables the House to adjust the distribution of its membership accordingly. The first Census Act of 1790 established the concept of "usual residence", which has been applied in that and each subsequent census.
The number of representatives per state is determined by the ratio of the number of persons each representative is to represent, with the ratio changing as the population grows and new states are admitted. The way to handle fractional remainders has also changed over time, with various methods such as the Jefferson, Webster, and Vinton or Hamilton methods being used at different points in history.
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Representatives must be at least 25 years old, have been a US citizen for at least 7 years, and be an inhabitant of the state they represent
The US Constitution, Article I, Section 2, sets out three qualifications that must be met by anyone wishing to become a Representative. These are that the individual must be at least 25 years old, have been a US citizen for at least 7 years, and be an inhabitant of the state they represent at the time of the election.
The age and citizenship requirements for representatives are less stringent than those for senators, who must be at least 30 years old and have been a citizen for 9 years. The constitutional requirements of Article I, Section 2, for election to Congress are the maximum that can be imposed on a candidate. Therefore, neither House may establish additional qualifications, nor may a state.
The founders wanted the House of Representatives to be the legislative chamber closest to the people, with the fewest barriers to entry for ordinary citizens. The minimum age of 25 was chosen during the Federal Constitutional Convention, when George Mason of Virginia proposed raising the age from 21, the voting age at the time. The citizenship requirement was influenced by British law, which prevented anyone born outside England or its Empire from serving in the Commons. The founders aimed to balance preventing foreign interference in politics with keeping the House accessible to the people. They also did not want to discourage immigration by shutting off the government to new arrivals.
The number of Representatives in the House is not fixed by the Constitution, beyond the stipulation that there must be at least one per state and no more than one for every 30,000 citizens. Congress regularly increased the size of the House to account for population growth until it was fixed at 435 in 1911. This number was temporarily increased to 437 in 1959 when Alaska and Hawaii joined the Union, but it returned to 435 following the 1960 census.
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The House represents citizens based on district populations, while the Senate represents citizens on an equal state basis
The United States House of Representatives, also known as the House, is one of Congress's two chambers, the other being the US Senate. The House represents citizens based on district populations, while the Senate represents citizens on an equal state basis. This agreement is part of what is called The Great Compromise, which led to the Permanent Seat of Government Act that established the nation's federal capital in Washington, DC.
The House is led by a speaker, who is elected by the members, and other floor leaders, who are chosen by the Democratic Caucus or the Republican Conference, depending on the party with the most voting members. The House's primary function is to make and pass federal laws. Each member of the House represents a set number of constituents. Representatives are chosen every second year by the people of the various states, and each state's electors must meet the qualifications required of electors of the most populous branch of the state legislature.
The Constitution sets out three qualifications for representatives: they must be at least 25 years old, have been a US citizen for at least seven years, and be an inhabitant of the state they represent at the time of the election. While members are not required to live in the districts they represent, they traditionally do. The constitutional requirements of Article I, Section 2 for election to Congress are the maximum requirements that can be imposed on a candidate.
The number of voting representatives in the House is fixed by law at no more than 435, proportionally representing the population of the 50 states. This number was set by Public Law 62-5 on August 8, 1911, and has been in effect since 1913. The only constitutional rule relating to the size of the House states: "The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative."
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The House of Representatives elects a speaker, who acts as the leader of the House
The United States Constitution states that the number of voting representatives in the House of Representatives, also known as the House, should be no more than one for every thirty thousand citizens, with each state having at least one representative. The number of voting representatives in the House is currently fixed by law at 435, with each representative serving a two-year term. This number is proportional to the population of the 50 states.
The House elects a speaker who acts as its leader and combines several institutional and administrative roles. The speaker is the House's presiding officer and is elected by the members of the House. The speaker pro tempore acts as the presiding officer in the speaker's absence and is designated by the speaker. This designation usually lasts for no more than three legislative days, but in the case of the speaker's illness, it can be extended to ten days with the House's approval.
The process of electing a speaker involves each party's caucus or conference selecting a candidate from among its senior leaders. The representatives-elect then vote for the speaker by roll call, and the candidate must receive a majority of votes to be elected. If no candidate wins a majority, the roll call is repeated until a speaker is elected. Representatives are free to vote for someone other than their party's candidate, but they generally do not as the election demonstrates which party has the majority and will organise the House.
The speaker is responsible for creating a secret ordered list of members to temporarily serve as speaker if the speakership becomes vacant. This list is provided to the clerk of the House and is used to maintain continuity in government, as seen in the case of Kevin McCarthy's removal from the speakership in October 2023, after which Patrick McHenry became the acting speaker.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution states that the number of voting representatives in the House should not exceed 435, with each state receiving a minimum of one representative.
Members of the House are elected every two years.
To be elected to the House, a person must be at least 25 years old, a citizen of the United States for seven years or more, and a resident of the state that they will represent.
The distribution of members among the states is based on the population of each state, with some states having more representatives than others.
US territories and the District of Columbia are represented in the House by delegates who have many of the same functions as representatives but cannot vote on the final passage of legislation.
