Simone Lawson
Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution outlines the organization of the House of Representatives, including the timeframe for elections and the number of representatives for each state. This section also addresses the controversial issue of how to count slaves for representation and taxation purposes, leading to the three-fifths compromise. It establishes that every adult must complete a survey every ten years, which is used to determine the number of representatives and distribution of federal resources among the states. Additionally, Article I, Section 2 specifies the operating rules for the House, such as the process for filling vacancies and the power of impeachment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Article | I |
| Section | 2 |
| Focus | House of Representatives |
| Election cycle | Every two years |
| Minimum age | 25 |
| Citizenship requirement | 7 years |
| Residency requirement | Must live in the state they represent |
| Number of members | 435 |
| Redistricting | Every 10 years |
| Slave population count | Three-fifths of a person |
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What You'll Learn
The House of Representatives
The size of the House of Representatives is capped at 435 members, with each state allocated at least one representative based on its population. The distribution of representatives among the states is determined by the census, which is conducted every 10 years. The process of redrawing district lines to favour a particular party, known as gerrymandering, has been a notable aspect of the House's composition.
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Congressional districts
Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution outlines the composition and powers of the House of Representatives, one of the two chambers of Congress. This section plays a crucial role in establishing the framework for congressional districts and representation in the House.
One of the key provisions of Article I, Section 2 is the requirement that congressional districts be divided among the states based on population. The section specifies that every adult in the country must complete a survey every ten years, known as the census. Based on the census data, Congress determines the number of representatives for each state, with each state guaranteed at least one representative.
The process of drawing district lines has been left to state legislatures, which can result in gerrymandering. Gerrymandering occurs when the political party in power in a state legislature draws district lines in a way that favours their candidates, impacting House of Representatives election outcomes for the following decade.
Another important aspect of Article I, Section 2 is the qualification requirements for representatives. To be eligible to serve in the House of Representatives, an individual must be at least 25 years old, have been a US citizen for at least seven years, and live in the state they represent.
It is worth noting that Article I, Section 2 also includes the Three-Fifths Compromise, a controversial agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention. This compromise stated that for the purpose of representation and taxation, each slave would be counted as three-fifths of a person in a state's population count.
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Population count
Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution outlines the organisation of the House of Representatives, including the timeframe for elections and the number of representatives for each state. This section also specifies how congressional districts are to be divided among the states, including how to count a state's population.
Determining how to count a state's population was a major challenge at the Constitutional Convention. The issue of how to count slaves for representation and taxation purposes was particularly controversial. Southern slave owners considered slaves property but wanted them to be fully counted to increase their political power in Congress. The framers eventually agreed to the three-fifths compromise, in which each slave was counted as three-fifths of a person.
The three-fifths compromise was later superseded by the 14th Amendment, which stated that "Representatives shall be chosen...by the People of the several States" and that "one man's vote in a congressional election is to be worth as much as another's." This amendment established the requirement that election districts in each state should be structured so that each elected representative represents substantially equal populations.
The Supreme Court has played a role in interpreting and enforcing these requirements. In Wesberry v. Sanders, the Court held that the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment requires that congressional districts be drawn to achieve precise mathematical equality in population. In another case, the Court upheld a lower court's voiding of a Texas congressional districting plan that had significant population differences between districts.
Every 10 years, every adult in the country must complete a survey as part of the census. Based on this data, Congress determines the number of representatives for each state and how federal resources are distributed.
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Qualifications
Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution lays out the qualifications and rules for the House of Representatives. This includes the timeframe for elections, the number of representatives for each state, and the requirements to be a representative.
The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every two years by the people of the states. There are three qualifications that a representative must meet: they must be at least 25 years old, have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years, and must live in the state from which they are chosen. Efforts to add requirements for office, such as durational residency rules or loyalty oaths, have been rejected by Congress and the courts.
The number of representatives for each state is based on the state's population, with each representative representing substantially equal populations. This has been a difficult and critical issue, especially regarding how to count slaves for representation and taxation. The three-fifths compromise was agreed upon, where each slave was counted as three-fifhs of a person in a state's population count.
The House of Representatives is also responsible for choosing its own speaker, who is in line to become president if neither the president nor vice president can serve. Additionally, only the House has the power of impeachment.
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Election rules
Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution outlines the election rules for the House of Representatives. This chamber of Congress is composed of members chosen every two years by the people of the states. There are only three qualifications for representatives: they must be at least 25 years old, have been a U.S. citizen for at least seven years, and must live in the state from which they are chosen.
The House of Representatives is led by a speaker, who is chosen by the House itself. The speaker is in line to become president if neither the president nor the vice president is able to serve. The House also has the sole power of impeachment.
Article I, Section 2 also establishes that every 10 years, every adult in the country must complete a survey. Based on these surveys, Congress determines how many representatives (with a minimum of one) each state will have and how federal resources will be distributed.
The Constitution initially set the number of House members from each of the original 13 states, but this has since changed. In 1929, Congress limited the House of Representatives to 435 members and established a formula to determine the number of districts in each state. This number is based on each state's population, with each congressional district containing roughly the same number of people.
The House of Representatives has its own set of rules, established by the House itself. These rules include the terms of debate and the bills that go to the House Floor. The House also has standing committees that consider bills and issues and make recommendations for the House. These committees have websites where they post information about the legislation they are drafting.
The House of Representatives also has the power to judge its own elections, determine the qualifications of its members, and expel members.
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Frequently asked questions
Section 2 of Article I of the U.S. Constitution is talking about the House of Representatives.
Section 2 establishes the House of Representatives as being composed of members chosen every two years by the people of the states. It also outlines that representatives must be at least 25 years old, have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years, and must live in the state they represent.
Section 2 also addresses how congressional districts are to be divided among the states, with each representative representing substantially equal populations. It also specifies that every 10 years, every adult in the country must complete a survey to determine how many representatives each state gets and how federal resources are distributed.
