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Members of the House are elected for a term of two years. Elections alternately coincide with the presidential election; when they do not, they are called mid-term elections.
Since 1941, the House has had 435 seats which are apportioned among the fifty states by population, as determined by a decennial census. Members are elected from districts through a first past the post method. Consequently, disputes over the boundaries of the districts, which must be redrawn after each census, can be particularly contentious.
Subject to constitutional requirements established by case law, and in some states to review by the United States Department of Justice to ensure compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act, which
bans drawing districts to reduce the voting power of ethnic minorities, the government of each state draws the boundaries for the House districts within the state's borders. While Federal law and
court decisions prohibit gerrymandering districts from being drawn to reduce the voting power of protected
groups such as ethnic minorities, it is perfectly legal to draw districts to favor one political
party or another. Many analysts have argued that sophisticated gerrymandering computer technology plus the fundraising advantages incumbents possess have resulted in a situation where very few of the seats in the House are actually competitive. In 2002, a redistricting year, 356 House races were decided by more than 20 percent, another 41 were decided by 10 to 20 percent, only 38 were decided by less than 10 percent. Of close races, nearly all involved an open seat or a seat whose incumbent had only served one or two terms.
In 2004, nine incumbent Congressmen were defeated for reelection, two in primary races and seven in the general election. However, both of the primary losers, and four of those who lost in the general, were defeated after the unusual mid-decade Texas gerrymander. In only twelve other House contests was the election decided by less than 10 percent.
Even though only a few incumbents were defeated in 2004, the combination of retirements and resignations to run for other offices caused a nearly ten percent turn over between the 108th and 109th Congresses. This level of turn over is common and exceeds the percentage of turn over in the U.S. Senate. However, of the vacant seats, only three changed party control.
If a vacancy occurs in a House seat between elections, it may be filled only by a special election.
Presently the state delegations in the House range from fifty-three members for California, to one each for Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, VermontVermont is the 14th state of the United States, known for its beautiful scenery, dairy products, maple syrup and progressive politics. History Vermont was originally home to the tribes of the Iroquois, Algonquian and Abenaki nations. In 1609, French explo, and WyomingWyoming State nickname: Equality State Other U. States Capital Cheyenne Largest City Cheyenne Governor Dave Freudenthal Area Total Land Water % water Ranked 10th 253,554 kmē 251,706 kmē 1,851 kmē 0. 7% Population Total ( 2000) Density Ranked 50th 493,782. There are also five members without voting rights on the floor, but who may vote in committee proceedings. Four of these non-voting "delegates" are from the District of Columbia, American SamoaAmerican Samoa is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the South Pacific Ocean. Originally inhabited as early as 1000 BC, Samoa was reached by European explorers in the 18th century. International rivalries in the latter half o, GuamThe Territory of Guam ( In Detail) ( In Detail) Territorial motto: Where America's Day Begins Official languages English, Chamorro, Japanese Capital Hagatna Chief of state George W. Bush Governor Felix Perez Camacho Area Total % water Ranked 202nd 549 kmē, and the U.S. Virgin IslandsThe Virgin Islands of the United States is a group of islands in the Caribbean that is a dependency of the United States. These islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands. Virgin Islands of the United States coat of arms ( In Detail) ( In Detai and serve two-year terms just as ordinary Members do. A fifth delegate, known as the Resident Commissioner of Puerto RicoThe Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico is a nonvoting representative of the United States House of Representatives elected by Puerto Ricans every 4 years. The representative is allowed to, and serves as process observer, in U. Congress committees. List, serves a four-year term. Apportionment of House seats among the states changed slightly with the 108th Congress elected in 20022002 is a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). 2002 was the first palindromic year since 1991 and the last until 2112. 2002 was also designated: International Year of Ecotourism and Mountains National Science Year in the United Kingdom. That Congress, and the four that follow, have been reapportioned on the basis of the April 1, 2000, United States Census. (See complete apportionment numbers in United States Congress.)
See also List of members of the U.S. House of Representatives
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