By the Numbers: An Inadequate Congress
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1911
Year that Congress adopted the Apportionment Act of 1911, which capped membership at 435 members
93.8 million
U.S population in 1911, when the size of Congress reached its present membership of 435 representatives
316 million
U.S. population today
30,000
Number of people represented by each member of Congress in the first Federal Congress
726,436
Number of people represented by each member of Congress today
10,533
Number of members of Congress we would have today if each member still represented 30,000 people
500,000
Number of people represented by a Congressman in Wyoming today
900,000
Number of people represented by a Congressman in Delaware
Sources: History, Art, & Archives: United States House of Representatives; United States Census Bureau; New York Times