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Posted on 03/25/2026 8:21:05 AM PDT by deks
If you want to weaken gerrymandering, avert government shutdowns, reduce the concentration of power among politicians, blunt the influence of money in elections, loosen the grip of national media narratives, lower the cost of running for office and give voters a stronger sense that their voice matters, there is a single structural reform for that.
If Congress won’t revisit the Reapportionment Act of 1929, then the Supreme Court should. That century-old law’s obsolescence is responsible for many of the country’s most persistent frustrations. It gives rise to districts so large they feel abstract; campaigns so expensive they depend heavily on national fundraising networks; elections shaped by media ecosystems where local concerns struggle to break through; and a U.S. House so tightly balanced that governing routinely turns into standoffs.
The simplest way to change...Expand the House.
The Constitution does not fix the House at 435 members. Article I, Section 2 merely sets a ceiling at one representative for every 30,000 residents of a given state. The design assumed there would be growth in the number of legislators. Today, the actual ratio is roughly one representative for every 760,000 Americans — a scale far beyond what the founders envisioned for an institution meant to be the public’s closest link to federal power.
The Census itself was created for this purpose. At the Constitutional Convention, George Washington — who spoke only once — urged that representation remain close to the people and argued for a ratio of one representative for every 30,000. James Madison later made the expectation explicit. In Federalist No. 55, he described the House’s size as temporary and looked toward “a continual augmentation of the number of representatives.”
For more than a century, Congress followed that blueprint. The House grew steadily from 65 members in 1789 to 435 by 1913.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
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ping
What a fantastic idea...let’s put even more people in the House that won’t represent the majority of US citizens...and pay them incredible pensions funded by the people that they forget about once elected.
Journo worrying about what’ll happen after next census.
I would greatly prefer that the 17th Amendment be repealed. Let the state legislatures appoint senators to represent the state.
Yes, the 17th and imo 19th need to both be repealed, that will fix a lot of our current issues.
RE: What a fantastic idea...
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The congress should be moved to a central US location, with representatives paid on a per diem allowance. Term limits, no special perks, no gold plated retirement, no stock trading while a member, no exemption from laws, same health insurance as everyone else, etc. etc.
Do have any other suggestions?
It WAS designed to grow. Every time a state was added, 2 senators and some congressman were added. The last thing in the world we need to do is make the government even bigger and more expensive!
Yes, the 17th and imo 19th need to both be repealed, that will fix a lot of our current issues.
BINGO!
And if they have a good idea and pass it, it dies in a Senate that has to have 60 votes to pass almost anything.
I see your point, But when you dilute power, wouldn’t you get better representation? And perhaps end some of the things you mention?
Indeed, with a larger House we’d probably have a better chance of getting Term Limits passed.
28 states each have more people as of 2020 than the entire US had in 1790. The top 15 metropolitan areas each have more people than the entire US had in 1790.
The federal government should not be enlarged. States should be the centers of political power in our lives.
If you want that! Work to repeal the 17th Amendment!
Cuba, perhaps later.
Yes, that’s why the Census was created: House Reapportionment. And guess who’s in charge of the Census? Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.
The House of Representatives briefly had 437 members after Alaska and Hawaii became states. It went back to 435 after the 1960 census was completed. The 1960 election saw 537 electoral votes cast.
I kinda like this idea. Need to do my homework.
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