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By the Numbers: An Inadequate Congress

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