Question 25 of 100 · 2008 civics test
Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
From the 100-question list, the version for applications filed before October 20, 2025.
Accepted answers
- (because of) the state’s population
- (because) they have more people
- (because) some states have more people
Any one of these is accepted, unless the question asks for more than one.
Why this is the answer
In the House, seats are handed out according to population, so a state with more people gets more representatives. All three accepted answers say that. The Founding Fathers wanted people in every state to be represented fairly, and the two chambers do it in two different ways. The House gives states with many people a stronger voice, because their numbers translate into seats. The Senate does the opposite: every state has the same number of senators, so a state with few people still carries real weight in the national government. Together the two chambers balance size against equality. Memory hook: the House counts people, the Senate counts states.