Our population has tripled since the house was capped in the 1920s. The house should triple, too. 1305.
Accurate_Pear_1436 on
Until we fix politics, I don’t want any more of them getting paid, cheating the system, and mooching off of taxpayers to systematically ignore us and engorge themselves. How about less?
qualmful on
This is by far the easiest solution to gerrymandering and it makes the electoral college counts more fair too. It should be seriously considered.
firemage22 on
that’d be a step toward the 1 rep per 30k the founders wanted
logannc11 on
Proportional representation system for multi person bodies.
Approval voting for single offices.
Choice-of-SteinsGate on
Congress has not been expanded in some time.
But if we want to institute structural reforms for the purpose of equal representation, then the end goal should be proportionate representation.
This would require a piecemeal approach though. Even just proposing setting up independent commissions in every state for redistricting would be its own nearly impossible task.
It would probably also require expanding and also amending the Court so that an actual code of ethics can be enforced.
Then we might actually have a chance of overturning Citizens United.
Which should also come alongside investigating and exposing campaign finance corruption, institutional and dark money groups, and foreign election meddling to the fullest and strictest extent. Then establishing whatever guardrails, funding, oversight and/or agencies are needed to confront these problems.
Also heavily regulating super PACS and proposing publicly funded campaigns while requiring 100% donor transparency and more immediate reporting on how campaigns are funded.
And of course crippling the power and influence of billionaires in our elections and policy making decisions.
We would also need to codify new voting rights into law that further inhibit or even criminalize voter suppression and election subversion efforts that have escalated post January 6th. These laws should also address the ways in which racialist and segregationist policies of the past have created lingering disparities and inequities.
Unfortunately, many of these ideas are considered “too radical” by today’s standards.
Wolveshade on
Ooh boy. We all have members we pay monthly to not even show up. This system needs to be addressed. We have that lady in Texas was found in a retirement home and a member in New Jersey has been a no call no show for months now. Just opens a floodgate of waste and fraud without addressing these issues.
Traditional-Look8839 on
YouTuber Mr. Beat has an excellent video on this and has convinced several congress members to add onto their agenda. Recommend everyone check him out his advocacy for uncapping the house.
IamOB1-46 on
A minimum of 1000 to bring us in line with what it was when frozen in 1929. That was a poison pill that took 50 years to start being a problem and has just kept getting bigger since.
It would massively help the triple threat issue of the electoral college, gerrymandering and lobbying.
MobiusX0 on
100% there should be more seats in the House.
House members should also spend more time in their districts talking to constituents and be able to vote remotely.
motophotodojo on
Representation should just be a random lottery system where they pull social security numbers. That would make things more prudent to ensure everyone is successful and sane and caring for others.
bknyguy15 on
The senate either needs reform or to be abolished also. Over 50% of the population lives in 9 states and by next census it could be 60% . That means 18 senators for 59% and 82 for the other50% . That was never the intention . Save me the smaller state crap.
Nissir on
I counter with we should split the US into 8 parts with 42 million in each section give or take.
Training-Growth-3916 on
What about Andrew Yang’s idea to give electoral money to the public? I haven’t looked into it deeply. Would this help?
CheesyPotatoSack on
That’s what CEASAR did in Rome to gain influence and control Roman Empire. Then next Emperor Augustus had to let them all go to get back control of Rome from senators and end all the corruption that happened with them
wolferman on
Yes, but could they all fit in the ballroom? /s
Cael_NaMaor on
We need a redesigned gov’t. Perhaps more stringently stepped tiers with a smaller figurehead assembly at the top. Yes, people need better more suited representation at levels that can overrule injustice at other levels, but they also need function & 6k people squabbling over law ain’t gonna get shit done when the few hundred we already have can’t.
We need a better solution than just more bodies & spending $1bil annually on salary alone.
IBAZERKERI on
BIG agree
JamesTiberiusCrunk on
Dramatically increase the number of districts, and ALSO add seats thar are not tied to any district and just achieve proportional representation at the national level. Vote in your local election and then also for a party. If the green party gets 3% of the vote nationwide, they get 3% of the seats even if won none of the individual seats.
This retains the incentive for district tied members to work for their small constituency but also allows for minority party representation and kills any incentive to gerrymander.
chook_slop on
Yes!
TreeCitizen on
Can we pay them all minimum wage?
Apolloh on
Whats the point when congress is barely ever in session anyway?
SingularityCentral on
At the very least Congress should have 200-300 more seatsin the House, but it should probably double the size or more.
6,000 new seats seems like quite a jump.
FoxontheRun2023 on
Conservatives would argue about the costs involved in paying those extra salaries, perks and staff. In an era where they constantly tell us that we don’t have enough revenue (BS), be prepared for pushback.
wire28 on
Only 6000?
renlydidnothingwrong on
We should do that and also abolish the senate.
InformalProtection74 on
Been saying this for a long time. Glad to see it viewed positively.
All the reasons for the 1929 appropriations act that capped the house are now irrelevant due to advancements in technology and settling the west.
The lack of representation for the people has reached a point that it is merely a facade. Social issues are constantly covered in media to give people the illusion that representatives act on the behalf of the district they live in.
All while they look the treasury.
I could go on for hours about this.
theyhis on
MORE GOVERNMENT?! what?! wake up!! we need LESS government. less. significantly less government. 6,000 more seats in congress is bureaucratic suicide. it’s almost like a certain political party learned nothing from this election. its stockholm syndrome istg.
MrMayhem3 on
So 6000 more worthless corrupt lawmakers to solve the problem of the other worthless corrupt lawmakers? Solid plan.
Bad_Karma19 on
No way..
anarchitek1 on
Full Representation! If Wyoming, least-populated state in the union, gets ONE Representative, California should have 67. Wr do MOT need to coddle them, the way we have. They can WORK for a living, like the rest of us, be paid for the time they actually put in, for the nation’s business!
“One Man, Zone Vote” was a founding principle, abandoned by republikans of the 1920s.
SJMCubs16 on
I cannot imagine the power hungry congress would repeal this legislation, and even if they did, unlikely the current President would approve it….but it does sound like a great start.
RevolutionaryBug7588 on
And just like that there’s another 1T added to the budget….
Cptawesome23 on
This would work. The size of the district would be based on populations. More districts, more people get to have their vote “count”. This sounds like an intelligent idea. Would need independent districting board.
SmallerThanExpected9 on
1 per county per 25k people. Got a 50k county? You get 2.
This will be expensive, but cheaper than bomb in a pointless war.
GShermit on
Democracy comes from the people’s participation in our governing. Representatives participating in our governing is more of a republic thing.
MachiavelliSJ on
Good luck with that
feignapathy on
definitely need at least several hundred added
6,000 might be a bit of a logistics conundrum
chicagomatty on
The more I think about it, the most constructive ways to respond to the Trump years will all involve some constitutional changes…
lioneaglegriffin on
ah yes, reapportionment
JacobFromAmerica on
I don’t know about that many but it would be fucking nice to actually have a representative in federal government for a more precise area where you live and not a rep that is supposed to answer to like 500k ppl
42 Comments
at minimum it should have doubled in the 1950s
Our population has tripled since the house was capped in the 1920s. The house should triple, too. 1305.
Until we fix politics, I don’t want any more of them getting paid, cheating the system, and mooching off of taxpayers to systematically ignore us and engorge themselves. How about less?
This is by far the easiest solution to gerrymandering and it makes the electoral college counts more fair too. It should be seriously considered.
that’d be a step toward the 1 rep per 30k the founders wanted
Proportional representation system for multi person bodies.
Approval voting for single offices.
Congress has not been expanded in some time.
But if we want to institute structural reforms for the purpose of equal representation, then the end goal should be proportionate representation.
This would require a piecemeal approach though. Even just proposing setting up independent commissions in every state for redistricting would be its own nearly impossible task.
It would probably also require expanding and also amending the Court so that an actual code of ethics can be enforced.
Then we might actually have a chance of overturning Citizens United.
Which should also come alongside investigating and exposing campaign finance corruption, institutional and dark money groups, and foreign election meddling to the fullest and strictest extent. Then establishing whatever guardrails, funding, oversight and/or agencies are needed to confront these problems.
Also heavily regulating super PACS and proposing publicly funded campaigns while requiring 100% donor transparency and more immediate reporting on how campaigns are funded.
And of course crippling the power and influence of billionaires in our elections and policy making decisions.
We would also need to codify new voting rights into law that further inhibit or even criminalize voter suppression and election subversion efforts that have escalated post January 6th. These laws should also address the ways in which racialist and segregationist policies of the past have created lingering disparities and inequities.
Unfortunately, many of these ideas are considered “too radical” by today’s standards.
Ooh boy. We all have members we pay monthly to not even show up. This system needs to be addressed. We have that lady in Texas was found in a retirement home and a member in New Jersey has been a no call no show for months now. Just opens a floodgate of waste and fraud without addressing these issues.
YouTuber Mr. Beat has an excellent video on this and has convinced several congress members to add onto their agenda. Recommend everyone check him out his advocacy for uncapping the house.
A minimum of 1000 to bring us in line with what it was when frozen in 1929. That was a poison pill that took 50 years to start being a problem and has just kept getting bigger since.
It would massively help the triple threat issue of the electoral college, gerrymandering and lobbying.
100% there should be more seats in the House.
House members should also spend more time in their districts talking to constituents and be able to vote remotely.
Representation should just be a random lottery system where they pull social security numbers. That would make things more prudent to ensure everyone is successful and sane and caring for others.
The senate either needs reform or to be abolished also. Over 50% of the population lives in 9 states and by next census it could be 60% . That means 18 senators for 59% and 82 for the other50% . That was never the intention . Save me the smaller state crap.
I counter with we should split the US into 8 parts with 42 million in each section give or take.
What about Andrew Yang’s idea to give electoral money to the public? I haven’t looked into it deeply. Would this help?
That’s what CEASAR did in Rome to gain influence and control Roman Empire. Then next Emperor Augustus had to let them all go to get back control of Rome from senators and end all the corruption that happened with them
Yes, but could they all fit in the ballroom? /s
We need a redesigned gov’t. Perhaps more stringently stepped tiers with a smaller figurehead assembly at the top. Yes, people need better more suited representation at levels that can overrule injustice at other levels, but they also need function & 6k people squabbling over law ain’t gonna get shit done when the few hundred we already have can’t.
We need a better solution than just more bodies & spending $1bil annually on salary alone.
BIG agree
Dramatically increase the number of districts, and ALSO add seats thar are not tied to any district and just achieve proportional representation at the national level. Vote in your local election and then also for a party. If the green party gets 3% of the vote nationwide, they get 3% of the seats even if won none of the individual seats.
This retains the incentive for district tied members to work for their small constituency but also allows for minority party representation and kills any incentive to gerrymander.
Yes!
Can we pay them all minimum wage?
Whats the point when congress is barely ever in session anyway?
At the very least Congress should have 200-300 more seatsin the House, but it should probably double the size or more.
6,000 new seats seems like quite a jump.
Conservatives would argue about the costs involved in paying those extra salaries, perks and staff. In an era where they constantly tell us that we don’t have enough revenue (BS), be prepared for pushback.
Only 6000?
We should do that and also abolish the senate.
Been saying this for a long time. Glad to see it viewed positively.
All the reasons for the 1929 appropriations act that capped the house are now irrelevant due to advancements in technology and settling the west.
The lack of representation for the people has reached a point that it is merely a facade. Social issues are constantly covered in media to give people the illusion that representatives act on the behalf of the district they live in.
All while they look the treasury.
I could go on for hours about this.
MORE GOVERNMENT?! what?! wake up!! we need LESS government. less. significantly less government. 6,000 more seats in congress is bureaucratic suicide. it’s almost like a certain political party learned nothing from this election. its stockholm syndrome istg.
So 6000 more worthless corrupt lawmakers to solve the problem of the other worthless corrupt lawmakers? Solid plan.
No way..
Full Representation! If Wyoming, least-populated state in the union, gets ONE Representative, California should have 67. Wr do MOT need to coddle them, the way we have. They can WORK for a living, like the rest of us, be paid for the time they actually put in, for the nation’s business!
“One Man, Zone Vote” was a founding principle, abandoned by republikans of the 1920s.
I cannot imagine the power hungry congress would repeal this legislation, and even if they did, unlikely the current President would approve it….but it does sound like a great start.
And just like that there’s another 1T added to the budget….
This would work. The size of the district would be based on populations. More districts, more people get to have their vote “count”. This sounds like an intelligent idea. Would need independent districting board.
1 per county per 25k people. Got a 50k county? You get 2.
This will be expensive, but cheaper than bomb in a pointless war.
Democracy comes from the people’s participation in our governing. Representatives participating in our governing is more of a republic thing.
Good luck with that
definitely need at least several hundred added
6,000 might be a bit of a logistics conundrum
The more I think about it, the most constructive ways to respond to the Trump years will all involve some constitutional changes…
ah yes, reapportionment
I don’t know about that many but it would be fucking nice to actually have a representative in federal government for a more precise area where you live and not a rep that is supposed to answer to like 500k ppl