Original First Proposed Amendment

[Keith Broaders]

The first of 12 Amendments to the Constitution prposed by Congress  is not what you think.

Due to confusion on the wording of Artilce I Section 2 Clasue 3 in the Constitution  Congress decided propose an amendment to the Constitution that it was their intent  to provide each state with no more than 50,000 inhabitants.

The House of Representatives was to have proportional representation. A State with twice as many residents was to be entitled to teice as many representatives.

Article I Section 2 Clause 3 states that every state is entitled to at least 1 represenrtative and that no state shall have more than 1 representative for every 30,000 inhabitants. This clause mimits the number of representatives, but does not limit the size of the Congressional Districts,

With the Permanent Apportinment Act of 1929 every state had 1 representative  and no state had more that 1 representtaive for every 30,000 inhabitants. The Permanent Ap portinment Act complied with  the requirements found in Article I Section2 Clause 3, but made proportional representation impossible 

Freeaing hte number of Congreddionsl seats to 435