Assignment task:
Shaping Democracy: The Art and Science of Congressional Districts Congressional districts are the building blocks of representation in the United States House of Representatives. These districts determine how the American people are represented in one of the most important legislative bodies in the country. Understanding how these districts are formed, changed, and sometimes manipulated is crucial for every informed citizen. Let's explore the key concepts of apportionment, reapportionment, redistricting, and gerrymandering. Apportionment: Dividing the Pie Apportionment is the process of determining how many seats each state gets in the House of Representatives. The Constitution mandates that the total number of Representatives be proportional to each state's population. Currently, there are 435 seats in the House. How it works: Every ten years, the U.S. Census counts the population of each state. The total U.S. population is divided by 435 to determine the number of people each Representative should ideally represent. States are then allocated seats based on their population. For example, after the 2020 Census: Texas gained two seats (now 38) Florida gained one seat (now 28) California lost one seat (now 52)