Why do some states have more Representatives than others?

The number of Representatives a state has in the U.S. House is directly determined by its population. The Constitution mandates that representation should be apportioned based on population count, which is evaluated every ten years during the Census. States with larger populations receive more congressional seats because they have more residents relative to states with smaller populations. This system ensures that each state's representation in Congress reflects its population size, allowing the interests of more populous states to have a greater voice in legislative matters.

Geography, historical trends, and political influence can affect a state’s development and growth, but they do not directly determine the number of Representatives in the House. For instance, a state with a large geographic area may not necessarily have a large population and therefore fewer Representatives. Similarly, historical population trends may have contributed to current demographics but are not the basis for distribution at the time of the Census. Political influence may impact decisions made within Congress but does not dictate the allocation of Representative seats.