Isabella Carter
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the 'House', is one of the two chambers of Congress, the other being the Senate. The House has 435 members, with each state electing representatives based on their population. As of 2022, 412 representatives are elected through the first-past-the-post system, 3 through ranked-choice voting, and 20 through a two-round system. In addition, there are 6 non-voting delegates representing the District of Columbia and the US territories.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of members | 435 |
| Number of voting members | 435 |
| Number of non-voting members | 6 |
| Number of seats | 435 |
| Number of districts | 435 |
| Number of states | 50 |
| Number of representatives per state | Varies, based on population |
| Number of representatives elected from each district | 1 |
| Number of representatives over the age of 59 | 50% |
| Number of female representatives | 7% |
| Number of representatives from California | 52 |
| Number of representatives from Alaska, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming | 1 |
| Number of representatives elected through a genuinely contested electoral process | 40 |
| Age requirement | 25 years |
| Citizenship requirement | 7 years |
| Term length | 2 years |
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What You'll Learn
There are 435 members of the House of Representatives
The United States Congress comprises two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives, or "House" for short. There are 435 members of the House of Representatives, with each state's number of representatives determined by its population.
The House of Representatives shares the responsibility of the legislative process with the Senate, creating federal statutory law. Elections for representatives are held every two years, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of every even-numbered year. Representatives are elected from single-member districts, and each representative represents the state they are elected from.
The House has a presiding officer, the speaker of the House, who is elected by the members. The speaker acts as the leader of the House and combines several institutional and administrative roles. The current speaker is Nancy Pelosi, a member of the Democratic Party.
The House also has majority and minority leaders, whips, and a party caucus or conference. The majority and minority leaders represent their respective parties on the House floor, while the whips assist the leadership in managing their party's legislative program. The party caucus or conference is a meeting of all party members in the House, where they discuss matters of concern.
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Six non-voting members also sit in the House
The United States Congress is made up of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives, or "House" for short. The House has 435 members, with each state electing a number of representatives proportional to its population. In addition to these 435 voting members, six non-voting members also sit in the House. These non-voting delegates represent the District of Columbia and the US territories of Guam, the US Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico.
The District of Columbia and the US territories are not included in the 435 congressional districts, and each sends a non-voting delegate to the House. The delegate from Puerto Rico is called the Resident Commissioner and serves a four-year term. The non-voting delegates have been expanded over time, with the delegate for the District of Columbia added in 1971, the delegate for the US Virgin Islands added in 1972, and the delegate for Guam added in 1972. In 1978, an additional delegate for American Samoa was added.
While their votes are constitutional when Congress authorizes their House Committee of the Whole votes, recent Congresses have not allowed for that, and they cannot vote when the House is meeting as the House of Representatives. The non-voting delegates and their powers have been expanding, with representation on committees for Puerto Rico's resident commissioner starting in 1970. This evolution has given them a voice in the legislative process, even if they cannot cast a formal vote on the floor of the House.
The non-voting delegates in the House of Representatives provide a way for the people of the District of Columbia and the US territories to have some representation in the legislative process, even if they do not have full voting rights. The expansion of their powers and privileges over time has given them a more significant role in shaping policy and representing the interests of their constituents.
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Representatives must be at least 25 years old
The United States House of Representatives, along with the Senate, forms one of the two chambers of Congress. The House of Representatives has 435 members, with each state's number of representatives determined by its population. The House has 6 additional non-voting members, including 5 delegates representing the District of Columbia and the US territories of Guam, the US Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. A non-voting resident commissioner represents Puerto Rico and serves a four-year term.
To become a member of the House of Representatives, there are specific qualifications outlined in Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution. One of the key requirements is that representatives must be at least 25 years old. This age criterion is one of the constitutional requirements that must be met by individuals seeking election to Congress.
The age requirement for representatives is set at a minimum of 25 years. This age qualification is an essential aspect of the eligibility criteria for serving in the House of Representatives. It is important to note that while members are expected to be at least 25 years old, there is no upper age limit specified. As a result, representatives in the House can continue to serve as long as they are reelected, regardless of their age.
The 25-year age requirement for representatives is part of a broader set of qualifications outlined in the Constitution. In addition to age, individuals aspiring to become representatives must meet two other critical conditions. Firstly, they must have been citizens of the United States for at least seven years prior to the election. This citizenship requirement ensures that representatives have a strong understanding of and allegiance to the nation they will be serving. Secondly, they must be inhabitants of the state they seek to represent at the time of the election. While representatives are not mandated to reside in the specific districts they represent, it is a long-standing tradition for them to do so.
The age qualification for representatives is deliberately set lower than that for senators. Senators are required to be at least 30 years old, as stipulated in the Constitution. This distinction in age requirements between representatives and senators may reflect the different roles and responsibilities associated with each position. The House of Representatives and the Senate, as the two chambers of Congress, have distinct functions and powers in the legislative process.
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Elections are held every two years
The United States Congress is made up of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives, or the House, has 435 members, with each state electing a number of representatives proportional to its population. For instance, as of the 2020 census, California had the largest delegation with 52 representatives, while six states had only one representative each.
Elections for representatives are held every two years, on Election Day, which falls on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of every even-numbered year. The members of the House of Representatives are elected for a two-year term of Congress, which commences every other January. The Uniform Congressional Redistricting Act mandates that representatives must be elected from single-member constituencies or districts.
The House of Representatives also includes six non-voting members, who are delegates from the District of Columbia and the US territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. The delegate from Puerto Rico is called the Resident Commissioner, and they serve a four-year term.
The day-to-day activities of the House are controlled by the "majority party," which is the political party with the most seats. The presiding officer of the House is the speaker, who is elected by the members of the House. The majority and minority parties each elect a Whip, who ensures that their party's members vote as the party leadership desires.
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California had the largest delegation in 2020
The United States House of Representatives is made up of 435 members, with the number representing each state determined by population size. Elections for representatives are held every two years, and representatives must be elected from single-member districts.
California's large delegation gives the state significant political power in the House of Representatives. The state's representatives have the ability to influence policy and legislation that impacts not just California but the entire country. California's delegation also reflects the state's diverse population, with members from different ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
In addition to California's large delegation, several other states have notable representation in the House. Texas, for example, has a significant number of representatives due to its large population. On the other hand, six states, including Alaska, Delaware, and Vermont, have only one representative each, as their populations are relatively small.
The House of Representatives plays a crucial role in the US political system, with members creating and voting on legislation that shapes the country's future. California's large delegation in 2020 highlights the state's political influence and its role in shaping national policy.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 435 voting members in the House of Representatives, with each of the 50 US states electing a number of representatives proportionate to their population.
There are six non-voting members, or delegates, in the House of Representatives. They represent the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the US Virgin Islands.
Each state is entitled to at least one representative, but the number of representatives per state varies based on the state's population. For example, as of the 2020 census, California had the largest delegation with 52 representatives, while six states had only one representative each.
Members of the House of Representatives serve a fixed term of two years, with elections occurring every two years.
