By Alcee Hastings
Published May 21st 2001
Dear Colleague:
In the past 90 years, the U.S. has become the second most underrepresented democracy in the entire world, but the size of the House of Representatives has remained the same. In the past 90 years, U.S. population has more than tripled, but the size of the House of Representatives has remained the same. In the past 90 years, four states have joined the Union, but the size of the House of Representatives has remained the same. In fact, in the past 90 years, Congress has addressed permanently increasing the size of the House of Representatives only once.
While the U.S. claims the title “Leader of the Free World,” after India, it is the least representative democracy in the world! If you don’t believe me, just look at how the U.S. House of Representatives compares to other democratic country’s representative bodies:
1 British House of Commons 659 Members 1 Member per 90,288 people
2 Canadian House of Commons 301 Members 1 Member per 103,924 people
3 South Africa National Assembly 400 Members 1 Member per 108,553 people
4 German Bundestag 669 Members 1 Member per 123,752 people
5 Austrailia House of Representatives 148 Members 1 Member per 129,521 people
6 Japan Shugi-in 500 Members 1 Member per 253,100 people
7 Russia State Duma 450 Members 1 Member per 324,447 people
8 Nigeria House of Representatives 360 Members 1 Member per 342,605 people
9 Brazil Camara dos Deputados 513 Members 1 Member per 467,190 people
10 U.S. House of Representatives 435 Members 1 Member per 645,632 people
11 Indian Lok Sabha 552 Members 1 Member per 1,836,963 people
The effect that an increase in the size of the House of Representatives will have on the American political system is obvious. Increasing the size of the House will result in a reduced amount of campaign spending, smaller Congressional districts, more personal interaction between Members of Congress and their constituents, and most importantly, better representation for the American people.
On February 23, 2001, I introduced H.R. 506, a resolution to create a commission to study the size of the House of Representatives and the method by which representatives are chosen. I invite you to become a cosponsor of this essential piece of legislation aimed at putting the power back into the hands of the people. If you would like to become a cosponsor or have any questions, please contact me or David Goldenberg on my staff at 5-1313.
Sincerely,
Alcee L. Hastings
Member of Congress
In the past 90 years, the U.S. has become the second most underrepresented democracy in the entire world, but the size of the House of Representatives has remained the same. In the past 90 years, U.S. population has more than tripled, but the size of the House of Representatives has remained the same. In the past 90 years, four states have joined the Union, but the size of the House of Representatives has remained the same. In fact, in the past 90 years, Congress has addressed permanently increasing the size of the House of Representatives only once.
While the U.S. claims the title “Leader of the Free World,” after India, it is the least representative democracy in the world! If you don’t believe me, just look at how the U.S. House of Representatives compares to other democratic country’s representative bodies:
1 British House of Commons 659 Members 1 Member per 90,288 people
2 Canadian House of Commons 301 Members 1 Member per 103,924 people
3 South Africa National Assembly 400 Members 1 Member per 108,553 people
4 German Bundestag 669 Members 1 Member per 123,752 people
5 Austrailia House of Representatives 148 Members 1 Member per 129,521 people
6 Japan Shugi-in 500 Members 1 Member per 253,100 people
7 Russia State Duma 450 Members 1 Member per 324,447 people
8 Nigeria House of Representatives 360 Members 1 Member per 342,605 people
9 Brazil Camara dos Deputados 513 Members 1 Member per 467,190 people
10 U.S. House of Representatives 435 Members 1 Member per 645,632 people
11 Indian Lok Sabha 552 Members 1 Member per 1,836,963 people
The effect that an increase in the size of the House of Representatives will have on the American political system is obvious. Increasing the size of the House will result in a reduced amount of campaign spending, smaller Congressional districts, more personal interaction between Members of Congress and their constituents, and most importantly, better representation for the American people.
On February 23, 2001, I introduced H.R. 506, a resolution to create a commission to study the size of the House of Representatives and the method by which representatives are chosen. I invite you to become a cosponsor of this essential piece of legislation aimed at putting the power back into the hands of the people. If you would like to become a cosponsor or have any questions, please contact me or David Goldenberg on my staff at 5-1313.
Sincerely,
Alcee L. Hastings
Member of Congress
Election Day '09 was a roller-coaster for election reformers. Instant runoff voting had a great night in Minnesota, where St. Paul voters chose to implement IRV for its city elections, and Minneapolis voters used IRV for the first time—with local media touting it as a big success. As the Star-Tribune noted in endorsing IRV for St. Paul, Tuesday’s elections give the Twin Cities a chance to show the whole state of Minnesota the benefits of adopting IRV. There were disappointments in Lowell and Pierce County too, but high-profile multi-candidate races in New Jersey and New York keep policymakers focused on ways to reform elections; the Baltimore Sun and Miami Herald were among many newspapers publishing commentary from FairVote board member and former presidential candidate John Anderson on how IRV can mitigate the problems of plurality elections.