Some states have more representatives than others because the number of representatives is determined by the state's population. States with larger populations have more representatives to ensure proportional representation in the U.S. House of Representatives. This system is grounded in the U.S. Constitution and is adjusted every 10 years based on the national census, which counts the population of each state. Each state is guaranteed at least one representative, but additional seats are apportioned based on population size. This means populous states like California and Texas have many more representatives than less populous states like Wyoming or Montana.
This arrangement was established by the Great Compromise during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 to balance the interests of both large and small states: the House represents the population proportionally, while the Senate gives equal representation to every state with two senators each.
Thus, the variation in the number of representatives among states reflects population differences to keep representation in the House roughly equal per citizen while guaranteeing each state at least one member regardless of size.
