Apportionment and Redistricting
Twenty-Third Decennial Census
Congressional Reapportionment
Resident population
308,745,538
Senators (2 for each of the 50 States)
District of Columbia (23rd Amendment)
U.S. House of Representatives
TOTAL ELECTORAL VOTES
100
3
435
538
1. Ten year census (U.S. Census Bureau, Title 13, U.S. Code)
2. Excluded – resident population of D.C.
3. Included –
federal (civilian and military) employees overseas
aliens (legal and illegal)
children under age 18
4. Apportionment calculation (Title 2, U.S. Code)
Each state assigned one seat
50
Equal Proportions Formula
385
TOTAL Congressional seats
435
The number of representatives, after each 10-year census, must be distributed among the 50 states.
This process is named apportionment, and the computation formula is set by law. Data are used for
more than apportionment and redistricting. More than $500 billion of federal (your tax dollars) money
is distributed to states for health, education, infrastructure, and other purposes. This is the reason
why population shifts affect funding for states and local Governments.
After each decennial census, state legislatures under Public Law 94-171 must redraw district
geographic boundaries from which citizens will elect members to represent them in the U.S. House of
Representatives. The redistricting process creates controversy and litigation. Some states appoint an
independent body to redraw district boundaries. Absent an independent body, states enact laws that
govern how legislators will redraw geographic boundaries. Partisan favoritism, especially on the
political party in power, weighs heavily on the potential outcome because it maximizes their
advantage. This is why the opposition party will cry foul because it stands to lose a portion, or all of
its congressional district.