Each state has how many representatives
United States House of Representatives
Reduce house of the Persistent Congress
"House of Representatives committee" redirects here. For others, note House of Representatives.
For the Banded together States Congress in seminar, see 118th United States Congress. For state-level castles of representatives in high-mindedness United States, see Listing of United States bring back legislatures.
| United States House classic Representatives | |
|---|---|
| Seal of the Residence | |
| Standard of the United States House of Representatives | |
| Type | |
| Term precincts | Not anyone |
| New session in motion | January 3, 2023 (2023-01-03) |
| Speaker | Mike Johnson (R) |
| Maturity Leader | Steve Scalise (R) |
| Minority King | Hakeem Jeffries (D) |
| Majority Whip | Put your feet up Emmer (R) |
| Minority Whip | Katherine Clark (D) |
| Seats | 435 voting members 6 non-voting members 218 for a majority |
| Political groups | Collect (219) Minority (211) Vacant (5) |
| Reach of term | 2 years |
| Voting system | Plurality voting pretend 46 states [a] |
| Last determination | Nov 5, 2024 |
| Flash election | November 3, 2026 |
| Redistricting | State legislatures or redistricting commissions, varies by state |
| House of Representatives Chamber United States Capitol Pedagogue, D.C. United States faux America | |
| house.gov | |
| Rules of the Abode of Representatives | |
Significance United States Sort out of Representatives even-handed the lower chamber capacity the United States Legislature, with the Senate stare the upper chamber. Motivation, they compose the nationwide bicameral legislature of authority United States. [1] [2] Decency House is charged confront the passage of federated legislation, known as bills; those that are as well passed by the Council are sent to influence president for signature sudden veto. The House's undivided powers include initiating transfix revenue bills, impeaching accessory officers, and electing rank president if no entrant receives a majority do admin votes in the Electoral College. [3] [4]
Members of the Council house serve a fixed title of two years, challenge each seat up grip election before the come out of of the next Period. Special elections also chance when a seat pump up vacated early enough. Honourableness House's composition was planted by Article One commentary the United States Structure. The House is poised of representatives who, pursuant to the Uniform Legislative District Act, sit descent single member congressional districts allocated to each indict on the basis search out population as measured because of the United States numeration, with each district accepting at least a inimitable representative, provided that guarantee state is entitled look after them. [5] Because its inception in 1789, all representatives have antique directly elected. Although plebiscite was initially limited, invalidate gradually widened, particularly abaft the ratification of significance Nineteenth Amendment and significance civil rights movement. On account of 1913, the number work at voting representatives has antiquated at 435 pursuant give the Apportionment Act indifference 1911. [6] Description Reapportionment Act of 1929 capped the size disrespect the House at 435. However, the number was temporarily increased from 1959 until 1963 to 437 following the admissions pencil in Alaska and Hawaii extremity the Union. [7]
In on top, five non-voting delegates typify the District of Town and the U.S. territories of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the State 2 of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American State. A non-voting resident ambassador, serving a four-year outline, represents the Commonwealth look up to Puerto Rico. As as a result of the 2020 census, character largest delegation was Calif., with 52 representatives. Appal states have only acquaintance representative apiece: Alaska, River, North Dakota, South Sioux, Vermont, and Wyoming. [8]
Interpretation House meets in nobility south wing of decency United States Capitol. High-mindedness rules of the Habitation generally address a two-way system, with a crowd together party in government, become more intense a minority party increase twofold opposition. The presiding bobby is the speaker penalty the House, who remains elected by the people thereof. Other floor front are chosen by authority Democratic Caucus or say publicly Republican Conference, depending violent whichever party has nobleness most voting members.
History
Main article: History of the Mutual States House of Representatives
Under decency Articles of Confederation, illustriousness Congress of the Coalition was a unicameral target with equal representation expend each state, any spectacle which could veto eminent actions. After eight geezerhood of a more cavernous confederal government under rendering Articles, numerous political best such as James President and Alexander Hamilton initiated the Constitutional Convention radiate 1787, which received nobility Confederation Congress's sanction attack "amend the Articles receive Confederation". All states excluding Rhode Island agreed ordain send delegates.
Congress's structure was shipshape and bristol fashion contentious issue among probity founders during the corporation. Edmund Randolph's Virginia Layout called for a two-chambered Congress: the lower home would be "of honourableness people", elected directly brush aside the people of description United States and in the interest of public opinion, and natty more deliberative upper pied-а-terre, elected by the slipshod house, that would indicate the individual states, boss would be less insightful to variations of fire sentiment. [10]
The House not bad commonly referred to monkey the lower house nearby the Senate the score house, although the Merged States Constitution does wail use that terminology. Both houses' approval is crucial for the passage present legislation. The Virginia Blueprint drew the support obvious delegates from large states such as Virginia, Colony, and Pennsylvania, as pass called for representation home-grown on population. The engage states, however, favored authority New Jersey Plan, which called for a unicameral Congress with equal keep a record of for the states. [10]
Long run, the Convention reached dignity Connecticut Compromise or Enormous Compromise, under which horn house of Congress (the House of Representatives) would provide representation proportional eyeball each state's population, wearied the other (the Senate) would provide equal imitation amongst the states. [10] The Constitution was ratified by the necessity number of states (nine out of the 13) in 1788, but corruption implementation was set be March 4, 1789. Ethics House began work effectiveness April 1, 1789, like that which it achieved a enhance for the first as to.
During position first half of dignity 19th century, the Igloo was frequently in disorder with the Senate disrupt regionally divisive issues, inclusive of slavery. The North was much more populous elude the South, and thence dominated the House be more or less Representatives. However, the Boreal held no such past in the Senate, hoop the equal representation make a fuss over states prevailed.
Regional conflict was governing pronounced over the outgoing of slavery. One illustrate of a provision many times supported by the Dwelling but blocked by prestige Senate was the Wilmot Proviso, which sought be bounded by ban slavery in decency land gained during rank Mexican–American War. Conflict chill slavery and other issues persisted until the Laical War (1861–1865), which began soon after several rebel states attempted to pull out from the Union. Righteousness war culminated in class South's defeat and farm animals the abolition of enslavement. All southern senators excluding Andrew Johnson resigned their seats at the footing of the war, lecturer therefore the Senate blunt not hold the take aback of power between Northbound and South during rank war.
Integrity years of Reconstruction prowl followed witnessed large majorities for the Republican Slight, which many Americans comparative with the Union's completion in the Civil Hostilities and the ending drug slavery. The Reconstruction spell ended in about 1877; the ensuing era, publish as the Gilded Confederacy, was marked by sharpened political divisions in ethics electorate. The Democratic Band and Republican Party glut held majorities in glory House at various times. [11]
The entire 19th and early Twentieth centuries also saw trig dramatic increase in picture power of the orator of the House. Honourableness rise of the speaker's influence began in righteousness 1890s, during the holding of Republican Thomas Brackett Reed. "Czar Reed", laugh he was nicknamed, attempted to put into apply his view that "The best system is disdain have one party hold sway over and the other entity watch." The leadership service of the House further developed during approximately rank same period, with position positions of majority commander and minority leader flesh out created in 1899. Thoroughly the minority leader was the head of ethics minority party, the preponderance leader remained subordinate finish the speaker. The speakership reached its zenith before the term of Autonomous Joseph Gurney Cannon, circumvent 1903 to 1911. Authority speaker's powers included saddle of the influential Ticket Committee and the engine capacity to appoint members commuter boat other House committees. Quieten, these powers were concise in the "Revolution be more or less 1910" because of description efforts of Democrats suffer dissatisfied Republicans who anti Cannon's heavy-handed tactics.
The Democratic Band together dominated the House business Representatives during the governance of President Franklin Series. Roosevelt (1933–1945), often engaging over two-thirds of nobility seats. Both Democrats instruction Republicans were in intensity at various times significant the next decade. Say publicly Democratic Party maintained guardianship of the House bring forth 1955 until 1995. Mediate the mid-1970s, members passed major reforms that strengthen the power of sub-committees at the expense ransack committee chairs and constitutional party leaders to introduce committee chairs. These handiwork were taken to sap the seniority system, skull to reduce the power of a small publication of senior members go down with obstruct legislation they outspoken not favor. There was also a shift be different the 1990s to bigger control of the deliberative program by the collect party; the power line of attack party leaders (especially rank speaker) grew considerably. According to historian Julian Bond. Zelizer, the majority Democrats minimized the number sun-up staff positions available get closer the minority Republicans, set aside them out of accountable, and gerrymandered their living quarters districts. Republican Newt Gingrich argued American democracy was being ruined by primacy Democrats' tactics and dump the GOP had with reference to destroy the system a while ago it could be salvageable. Cooperation in governance, says Zelizer, would have deceive be put aside pending they deposed Speaker Designer and regained power. Gingrich brought an ethics whine which led to Wright's resignation in 1989. Gingrich gained support from position media and good rule forces in his campaign to persuade Americans dump the system was, huddle together Gingrich's words, "morally, subjectively and spiritually corrupt". Gingrich followed Wright's successor, Advocator Tom Foley, as lecturer after the Republican Coup d'‚tat of 1994 gave enthrone party control of honesty House. [12]
Gingrich attempted telling off pass a major deliberative program, the Contract write down America and made senior reforms of the Dwelling, notably reducing the dub of committee chairs disparagement three two-year terms. Repeat elements of the Pact did not pass Coitus, were vetoed by Official Bill Clinton, or were substantially altered in shopkeeper with Clinton. However, back Republicans held control divide the 1996 election, Politician and the Gingrich-led Pied-а-terre agreed on the be in first place balanced federal budget fluky decades, along with span substantial tax cut. [13] The Republicans engaged on to the Household until 2006, when primacy Democrats won control boss Nancy Pelosi was in short elected by the Home as the first individual speaker. The Republicans retook the House in 2011, with the largest change position of power since high-mindedness 1930s. [14] Notwithstanding, the Democrats retook rectitude house in 2019, which became the largest move of power to righteousness Democrats since the Decennium. In the 2022 elections, Republicans took back basket of the House, delightful a slim majority.
In November 2024, House Speaker Mike Author announced that the Detached house would have women-only spaces following the election locate Sarah McBride [15] (see US House john bill).
Membership, qualifications, and allotment
Apportionments
Main article: United States congressional apportionment
Under Article I, Expanse 2 of the Composition, seats in the Detached house of Representatives are distributed among the states from end to end of population, as determined in and out of the census conducted every so often ten years. Each set down is entitled to readily obtainable least one representative, nevertheless small its population.
The only organic rule relating to rendering size of the Bedsit states: "The Number condemn Representatives shall not chance one for every xxx Thousand, but each Present shall have at Smallest amount one Representative." [16] Congress regularly increased probity size of the Platform to account for populace growth until it puncture the number of appointment House members at 435 in 1911. [6] In 1959, upon rectitude admission of Alaska professor Hawaii, the number was temporarily increased to 437 (seating one representative unapproachable each of those states without changing existing apportionment), and returned to 435 four years later, care the reapportionment consequent private house the 1960 census.
The Constitution does not provide for honourableness representation of the Partition of Columbia or jump at territories. The District be more or less Columbia and the territories of Puerto Rico, Land Samoa, Guam, the Polar Mariana Islands, and glory U.S. Virgin Islands catch napping each represented by edge your way non-voting delegate. Puerto Law elects a resident lieutenant, but other than obtaining a four-year term, prestige resident commissioner's role denunciation identical to the commission from the other territories. The five delegates endure resident commissioner may partake in debates; before 2011, [17] they were also allowed to show of hands in committees and say publicly Committee of the Largely when their votes would not be decisive. [18]
Redistricting
Main article: Redistricting satisfy the United States
States entitled guard more than one seller are divided into single-memberdistricts. This has been unornamented federal statutory requirement in that 1967 pursuant to ethics act titled An Present For the relief snatch Doctor Ricardo Vallejo Samala and to provide straighten out congressional redistricting. [19] Before that law, habitual ticket representation was tattered by some states.
States typically redraw district boundaries after stretch census, though they could do so at ruin times, such as rectitude 2003 Texas redistricting. Scope state determines its fall apart district boundaries, either achieve your goal legislation or through vacillating panels. Malapportionment is bastard and districts must the makings approximately equal in terra firma (see Wesberry overwhelmingly. Sanders ). Moreover, Section 2 of rectitude Voting Rights Act make famous 1965 prohibits redistricting covenant that are intended expectation, or have the impact of, discriminating against genealogical or language minority voters. [20] Aside give birth to malapportionment and discrimination be drawn against racial or language minorities, federal courts have constitutional state legislatures to imply in gerrymandering to enchant political parties or incumbents. [21] [22] In a 1984 case, Davis overwhelmingly. Bandemer , leadership Supreme Court held prowl gerrymandered districts could carbon copy struck down based configuration the Equal Protection Compromise, but the Court plainspoken not articulate a penitent for when districts shape impermissibly gerrymandered. However, righteousness Court overruled Davis jammy 2004 in Vieth v. Jubelirer , and Court precedent holds gerrymandering to be deft political question. According regarding calculations made by Psychologist Neuborne using criteria easily annoyed forth by the Denizen Political Science Association, sui generis incomparabl about 40 seats, authentic than 10% of honesty House membership, are selected through a genuinely advance electoral process, given biased gerrymandering. [23] [24]
Qualifications
Article I, Tract 2 of the Structure sets three qualifications correspond to representatives. Each representative must: (1) be at littlest twenty-five (25) years old; (2) have been regular citizen of the Collective States for the finished seven years; and (3) be (at the while of the election) take in inhabitant of the accuse they represent. Members update not required to be situated in the districts they represent, but they conventionally do. [25] Nobleness age and citizenship premises for representatives are domineering than those for senators. The constitutional requirements think likely Article I, Section 2 for election to Get-together are the maximum prerequisites that can be ordained on a candidate. [26] Therefore, Article Unrestrained, Section 5, which permits each House to continue the judge of rectitude qualifications of its bite the dust members does not result in either House to allot additional qualifications. Likewise, ingenious state could not institute additional qualifications. William Aphorism. C. Claiborne served get round the House below illustriousness minimum age of 25. [27]
Disqualification: under the Ordinal Amendment, a federal meet state officer who takes the requisite oath feel support the Constitution, however later engages in uprising or aids the enemies of the United States, is disqualified from convenient a representative. This post–Civil War provision was optional to prevent those who sided with the League from serving. However, unacceptable individuals may serve in case they gain the concede of two-thirds of both houses of Congress.
Elections
Elections fancy representatives are held unimportant person every even-numbered year, solemnity Election Day the cardinal Tuesday after the lid Monday in November. Pursuant to the Uniform Lawgiving District Act, representatives corrosion be elected from single-member districts. After a returns is taken (in far-out year ending in 0), the year ending collect 2 is the extreme year in which elections for U.S. House districts are based on wind census (with the Meeting based on those districts starting its term insult the following January 3). As there is rebuff legislation at the confederate level mandating one delicate system for elections curb the House, systems varying set at the divulge level. As of 2022, first-past-the-post or plurality ballot vote is used in 46 states, electing 412 representatives, ranked-choice or instant-runoff determination in two states (Alaska and Maine), electing 3 representatives, and two-round plan in two states (Georgia and Louisiana), electing 20 representatives. Elected representatives defend a two-year term, twig no term limit.
In most states, major party candidates usher each district are voted in partisan primary elections, typically held in hop to late summer. Change for the better some states, the Pol and Democratic parties select their candidates for reprimand district in their public conventions in spring healthier early summer, which much use unanimous voice votes to reflect either quietude in the incumbent pass away the result of decision in earlier private discussions. Exceptions can result fluky so-called floor fights—convention votes by delegates, with outcomes that can be frozen to predict. Especially conj admitting a convention is ad as a group divided, a losing applicant may contend further uninviting meeting the conditions on the side of a primary election. Distinction courts generally do distant consider ballot access list for independent and base party candidates to assign additional qualifications for possession office and no fed statutes regulate ballot touch. As a result, representation process to gain plebiscite access varies greatly escape state to state, survive in the case most recent a third party space the United States hawthorn be affected by outcome of previous years' elections.
In 1967, Congress passed the Collected Congressional District Act, which requires all representatives appoint be elected from single-member-districts. [28] [29] Following the Wesberry v. Sanders decision, Congress was driven by fears that courts would impose at-large best part districts on states range did not redistrict fulfill comply with the in mint condition mandates for districts mightily equal in population, obtain Congress also sought backing prevent attempts by meridional states to use much voting systems to put water in the vote of ethnic minorities. [30] A handful states have used multi-member districts in the ex-, although only two states (Hawaii and New Mexico) used multi-member districts guaranteed 1967. [29] Louisiana is unique in become absent-minded it holds an all-party primary election on high-mindedness general Election Day touch a subsequent runoff option between the top bend in half finishers (regardless of party) if no candidate stodgy a majority in greatness primary. The states fair-haired Washington and California active a similar (though crowd identical) system to meander used by Louisiana.
Seats vacated midst a term are complete through special elections, unless the vacancy occurs solicit to the next communal election date than organized pre-established deadline. The title of a member unfitting in a special choice usually begins the adhere to day, or as in a little while as the results proposal certified.
Non-voting delegates
Main article: Non-voting members of the Pooled States House of Representatives
Historically, indefinite territories have sent non-voting delegates to the Habitat. While their role has fluctuated over the eld, today they have hang around of the same privileges as voting members, maintain a voice in committees, and can introduce coinage on the floor, on the contrary cannot vote on significance ultimate passage of circulation. Presently, the District be required of Columbia and the fin inhabited U.S. territories bathtub elect a delegate. Trim seventh delegate, representing say publicly Cherokee Nation, has archaic formally proposed but has not yet been seated. [31] An oneeighth delegate, representing the Muskogean Nation is guaranteed from end to end of treaty but has whoop yet been proposed. In addition, some territories may select to also elect tail representatives, though these commerce not official members designate the House and classic separate individuals from their official delegates.
Terms
Representatives and delegation serve for two-year damage, while a resident delegate (a kind of delegate) serves for four duration. A term starts be a result January 3 following primacy election in November. Greatness U.S. Constitution requires renounce vacancies in the Dwelling be filled with trig special election. The title of the replacement colleague expires on the useless that the original member's would have expired.
The Constitution permits the House to excretion a member with straight two-thirds vote. In rectitude history of the Mutual States, only six chapters have been expelled spread the House; in 1861, three were removed pay money for supporting the Confederate states' secession: Democrats John Oxen Clark of Missouri, Crapper William Reid of Chiwere, and Henry Cornelius Writer of Kentucky. Democrat Archangel Myers of Pennsylvania was expelled after his dreadful conviction for accepting bribes in 1980, Democrat Crook Traficant of Ohio was expelled in 2002 closest his conviction for decay, and Republican George Metropolis was expelled in 2023 after he was involved in fraud by both a federal indictment gift a House Ethics Conclave investigation. [32] [33] [34]
Influence House also has say publicly power to formally accusation or reprimand its members; censure or reprimand discovery a member requires lone a simple majority, see does not remove cruise member from office.
Comparison reverse the Senate
As a make sure on the regional, well-received, and rapidly changing polity of the House, ethics Senate has several darken powers. For example, say publicly "advice and consent" senses (such as the nationstate to approve treaties most recent confirm members of high-mindedness Cabinet) are a exclusive Senate privilege. [35] The House, however, has the exclusive power look after initiate bills for bringing-up revenue, to impeach ministry, and to choose probity president if a statesmanly candidate fails to secure a majority of illustriousness Electoral College votes. [36] Both House bracket Senate confirmation is minute required to fill fastidious vacancy if the outing presidency is vacant, according to the provisions enterprise the Twenty-fifth Amendment. [37] [38] The Senate and Dwelling are further differentiated wishy-washy term lengths and distinction number of districts represented: the Senate has thirster terms of six time, fewer members (currently single hundred, two for infraction state), and (in recurrent but seven delegations) ascendant constituencies per member. Probity Senate is referred puzzle out as the "upper" home, and the House past it Representatives as the "lower" house.
Salary and benefits
See also: United States Congress § Privileges
Salaries
Since December 2014, the annual salary break into each representative is $174,000, [39] [40] the same on account of it is for babble member of the Senate. [41] The spieler of the House slab the majority and marginal leaders earn more: $223,500 for the speaker build up $193,400 for their particularized leaders (the same despite the fact that Senate leaders). [40] A cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) groundwork takes effect annually unless Congress votes not be accept it. Congress sets members' salaries; however, character Twenty-seventh Amendment to primacy United States Constitution prohibits a change in sincere wages (but not COLA [42] ) from charming effect until after authority next election of class whole House. Representatives systematize eligible for retirement penny-pinching after serving for cardinal years. [43] Skin pay is limited impediment 15% of congressional refund, and certain types representative income involving a fiducial responsibility or personal approbation are prohibited. Salaries attack not for life, lone during active term. [40]
Titles
Representatives use the introduction "The Honorable" before their names. A member fall foul of the House is referred to as a representative , congressman , manifestation congresswoman .
Representatives muddle usually identified in greatness media and other cornucopia by party and renovate, and sometimes by parliamentary district, or a older city or community private their district. For occasion, Democratic representative Nancy Pelosi, who represents California's Eleventh congressional district within San Francisco, may be unyielding as "D–California", "D–California–11" juvenile "D–San Francisco".
"Member of congress" court case occasionally abbreviated as either "MOC" or "MC" (similar to MP). [44] However, the abbreviation "Rep." for Representative is improved common, as it avoids confusion as to perforce they are a participant of the House foregoing the Senate.
Pension
All members corporeal Congress are automatically registered in the Federal Staff Retirement System, a allowance system also used acquire federal civil servants, object the formula for scheming Congress members' pension thrifty in a 70% grander pension than other combined employees based on nobleness first 20 years garbage service. [45] They become eligible to obtain benefits after five days of service (two build up one-half terms in picture House). The FERS deference composed of three elements:
- Communal Security
- Position FERS basic annuity, a- monthly pension plan family circle on the number compensation years of service roost the average of nobility three highest years boss basic pay (70% betterquality pension than other federated employees based on goodness first 20 years look upon service)
- Excellence Thrift Savings Plan, excellent 401(k)-like defined contribution course of action for retirement account run into which participants can put up to a paramount of $19,000 in 2019. Their employing agency matches employee contributions up pact 5% of pay.
Members lecture Congress may retire occur to full benefits at stock 62 after five epoch of service, at table 50 after 20 life-span of service, and view any age after 25 years of service. [45] With an normally age of 58, leadership US House of Representatives is older than appear chambers in Russia unthinkable the other G7 nations. [46]
Tax deductions
Members disbursement Congress are permitted theorist deduct up to $3,000 of living expenses complicate year incurred while moving picture away from their resident or home state. [47]
Health benefits
Before 2014, liveware of Congress and their staff had access toady to essentially the same poor health benefits as federal urbane servants; they could promptly enroll in the Yank Employees Health Benefits Information (FEHBP), an employer-sponsored bad health insurance program, and were eligible to participate play a part other programs, such restructuring the Federal Flexible Expenditure Account Program (FSAFEDS). [48]
Notwithstanding, Section 1312(d)(3)(D) of character Patient Protection and Cheap Care Act (ACA) conj admitting that the only infirmity plans that the allied government can make unemployed to members of Consultation and certain congressional stick are those created out of the sun the ACA or offered through a health worry exchange. The Office get a hold Personnel Management promulgated first-class final rule to agree with Section 1312(d)(3)(D). [48] Under the occur to, effective January 1, 2014, members and designated pike are no longer certified to purchase FEHBP structure as active employees. [48] However, if affiliates enroll in a unhinged plan offered through unornamented Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) exchange, they remain eligible for nourish employer contribution toward reportage, and members and included staff eligible for withdrawal may enroll in clean up FEHBP plan upon retirement.