How many representatives
in Congress should each
state have?
Work in small groups of delegates. Each group should study the
bar graph on the next page. You may
draw a chart like the one on page 75
or your teacher might give you a
handout. Read the questions and
write your answers on your chart.
Step 1 There are seven small states
and six large states. Which states
are they? Write their names in
column one on your chart.
Step 2 Look at the graph and
figure out the population of
each state. Write these numbers
in column two on your chart.
Step 3 Suppose each state sends
only one representative to
Congress, write the number one
in column three on your chart.
Step 4 Now, suppose it is decided
that each state would have one
representative for every 30,000
people in the state. How many
representatives would each state
have? Divide the population by
30,000. Write these numbers in
column four on your chart.
Step 5 Add the numbers in each
column. Put your answers in
the total boxes.
Discuss and answer the
following questions.
A. If it were decided that there
should be one representative
for each state, how many representatives would all the small
states have together? How
many would all the large
states have together?
B. If it were decided that representation should be based on the
population of each state, how
many representatives would
the small states have together?
How many would the large
states have together?
C. In each state, how many
people would each
representative represent?
D. Why would the small states
favor the idea of having one
representative for the whole state?
E. Why would the large states favor
the idea of having one representative for every 30,000 people
in the state?