Washington, D.C.

The United States Congress is divided into two main parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The House is a critical body responsible for creating and passing federal laws, giving direct representation to the people.

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How many members are in the House of Representatives and how are they elected?

The House of Representatives is made up of 435 members who are elected every two years by people living in congressional districts across the country. Under Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution, each state’s voters elect House members every two years, with every state having at least one representative.

How are the numbers of House seats in each state decided?

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House seats are allocated to states based on population, which is reviewed every 10 years through the national census. Unlike the Senate, where each state has two senators, the number of House seats a state receives varies, with larger states having more. Every state, however, has a minimum of one representative. Population-based representation has been an essential feature of the House since the beginning, allowing it to adapt to population shifts over time.

Has the number of House members always been the same?

In the early years, the number of House members grew with each new census, but in the 1910s, the size was capped at 435 members. This number briefly increased to 437 in 1959 when Alaska and Hawaii became states, but then returned to 435. After each census, the number of seats assigned to each state is adjusted based on population changes, which means some states may gain seats, while others may lose some.

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What is the eligibility to be a House representative?

Candidates for the House need to meet three main qualifications: they must be at least 25 years old, have been US citizens for at least seven years, and live in the state they plan to represent. These rules aim to ensure that representatives have a good understanding of their state's concerns and needs.

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Who controls the House?

At present, the Republican Party holds a slim majority in the House, having gained control in the 2022 midterm elections. Of the 435 seats, Republicans hold 220, while Democrats have 212, with three seats currently vacant.

How has the House’s membership changed over time?

The House initially started with 59 members and quickly grew as more states, like North Carolina and Rhode Island, joined the Union. By 1912, due to population growth, the House set a limit of 435 members, a number that has stayed the same since.

The structure and population-based distribution of the House of Representatives play a key role in ensuring that Congress reflects the country’s evolving demographics.

(With inputs from agencies)