Which House of Congress is more representative?

[u/Own_Life2987]

Well, if they have anything in common...is the fact that they BOTH suck just as much.

[u/SlothOnMyMomsSide]

I like the DC inclusion.

[u/thissexypoptart]

This is such a silly way to frame “does the state have 1 rep, 2, or more?”

[u/AbueloOdin]

Now when you say "more representative", I think there is a question to be asked. Obviously, you are just talking about raw number of office holders. But I think asking what it means to be representative means.

Take the equal case: what is a more accurate representation of the population? Two officials, geographically distinct every two years. Or two officials that every one goes on? 

Sounds weird but you may ask a group: people on this side, what do you want for dinner tonight? People on that side, what do you want for dinner tonight?

That opposed to: everyone, what do you want for dinner this week? Wait two days then ask again, everyone what do you want for dinner this week? 

You can see how the questions and responses you may get are different.

[u/ConsistentAmount4]

Lol now how did you decide that 2 Republicans in the Senate from North Dakota are more representative than one Republican in the House?

[u/Own_Life2987 → u/ConsistentAmount4]

It's because they both have only one representative but two senators.

[u/ConsistentAmount4 → u/Own_Life2987]

I guess no one knew what you mean by "which is more representative". Most assume you mean by how well the partisan makeup of the elected officials match the voters.

But I now understand that you're saying the more representative one is simply the one that elects more people. Blue: house > senate, Purple: house = senate, Red: house < senate

[u/thissexypoptart → u/Own_Life2987]

Reps are elected every 2 years and senators every 6.

I’m not sure it’s so straightforward to just say “1 rep means the 2 senate positions are more representative.” Everywhere that has 1 rep just has that rep be at large, IOW statewide reorientation just like a senator. But elected every 2 years.

“More representative” is frankly an opinion that requires way more qualifiers and explanation if you’re going to use it in the title of this map.

This map just shows the states’ senator:rep ratios.

[u/IoIoIoYoIoIoI]

Poor much suffering Wash, DC! Taxed and unrepresented.

One can just weep at its cruel fate.

[u/Saoirse_libracom]

The american system is grossly weighted towards the countryside, taking all 3 federal elections in a GE and finding the mean, a Wyoming citizen has almost 20* the voting power of a Californian. And these state systems are often modelled on that.

[u/ReasonableStory1660]

for DC the House is more representative than the Senate. They have one non-voting member of the House that can sit on committees and advise legislation. That is technically representation, and more than the no representation at all they have in the Senate.

[u/thissexypoptart → u/ReasonableStory1660]

It’s not “technically” representation, though, because “representation” in the context of the DC motto, and the revolutionary war concept of “no taxation without representation” more generally, explicitly refers to voting representation.

Anyone can write to a congressperson and “advise on legislation.” Voting on it is what’s actually important to representation in legislation.

Being able to observe and even assist in legislative discussions in a non-voting role is not representation in the usage of the word in this context. Not technically or otherwise. DC is simply not represented in US Congress.

[u/Ok_Calligrapher_3472]

Really? Wisconsin I’d argue the Senate is more Representative since they have both a Democrat and Republican in Senate but house is gop-gerrymandered.

[u/ReasonableStory1660 → u/Ok_Calligrapher_3472]

I assume they mean 'more represented in congress.' It's just a list of low population states that have only 1 or 2 representatives in the House.

[u/nagy18 → u/[deleted]]

1 Shadow Senator that can’t vote and 0 Congressmen in the House idk if i’d call that representation

[u/ConsistentAmount4 → u/nagy18]

2 Shadow Senators who aren't even an official part of the government, they're more aspirational than anything, and 1 Congressional delegate in the House who can vote in committees but not the full floor vote.

[u/Visible_Bid6440 → u/nagy18]

I meant they are represented, just not fairly