Question 35System of Government

Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?

Answers USCIS accepts

  • (Because of) the state’s population
  • (Because) they have more people
  • (Because) some states have more people

What does this answer mean?

Some states have more representatives than others because they have more people. USCIS accepts several versions: because of the state's population, because they have more people, or because some states have more people.

The Constitution says seats in the House are divided among the states according to population, and it requires a count of the population every 10 years. That count is the census. After each census, the 435 House seats are divided again, so states that grow faster can gain seats and others can lose them. Every state gets at least one.

After the 2020 Census, six states have a single representative, while California, the state with the most people, has 52.

The Senate works differently: every state has two senators no matter its population. Together, the two parts of Congress balance the interests of large and small states.

At the interview, say "because of the state's population."

Memory tip

More people, more representatives.

Sources4

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