Issue: Equal representation: The Constitutional requirement of "one person-one vote" says that each election district contains approximately the same number of people. (+ or - 5 to 10%) Based on the 2000 Census, ideal district size is 646,952 residents* for each district. The exception to this rule occurs if a state only qualifies for one representative. Montana, for instance, has 905,316* in their apportioned population which is not enough for two districts. Therefore, Montana only has 1 representative to the House of Representatives representing 905,316 residents instead of 646,952 residents. *Source: Congressional Apportionment: Census 2000 Brief (PDF file) July, 2001, www.census.gov. < Back to Summary Next Issue > Site Map | Discussion Board | NYcitizens.org | Contact | Interactive Maps | Home | Best if viewed in Netscape 4.75 / Internet Explorer 4.01 or later browser version. ©2002 WXXI Public Broadcasting Council