Representation in the State Legislatures

[Keith Broaders]

In 1852 California had 36 representatives in their state assembly representing a population of 92,527 people which was equal to one representative for every 2,572 inhabitants.

Today California has 80 representatives or one for every 489,310 inhabitants.

New Hampshire has a population of 1,330,608 and has 400 representatives in their state's House of Representatives or one for every 3,327.

According to the "Due Process" Clause of the 14th Amendment everyone in every state is entitled to be equally represented. 

If California and New Hampshire were to be equally represented the state of  California would have 11,127 representatives instead of only 80.

In order to provide every citizen in every state with equal representation, the size of the legislative districts in all of the states must be equal. Currently the state of New Hampshire has a population of 1.3 million and has 400 representatives and California has a population of over 37 million and has only 80 representatives. Obviously, the equality of the voters in the various states does not exist.

The size of legislative districts in Congress and in the states should be the same.30,000. On that basis California should have 1,233 representatives instead of only 80. Every town or city with a population of over 30,000 would have a representative in the state's legislature.