Why aren the populations of Puerto Rico and other U.S. Island Areas included in the apportionment population counts?
The populations of Puerto Rico and other U.S. Island Areas are not included in the apportionment counts because they do not have any voting seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. • Question: How is the apportionment calculated? Answer: The apportionment for Census 2000 was calculated using the method of equal proportions, according to the provisions of Title 2, U.S. Code. Congress decides the method used to calculate the apportionment. This method has been used in every census since the 1940 census. The method computes “priority values” based on each state’s apportionment population. • Question: Can the number of members/seats in the U.S. House of Representatives be increased? Answer: Yes, the number of House seats can be increased by legislation enacted by Congress. However, the number of House seats has remained constant at 435 since 1911, except for a temporary increase to 437 at the time of admission of Alaska and Hawaii as states. • Question: What is the mandate for conductin
