What would the ideal population be for congressional districts?

[DPKdebator]

Currently the average population for a congressional district is 761,179 per the 2020 census. It has been almost a century since the House has been expanded and so has the average seat population. What do you think the ideal size for a congressional district is?

[wnwnwn]

Either 500K or the Wyoming Rule (Wyoming population accoding to the last Census is 576,851).

[Storr]

In my opinion, it should be 100,000. I don't care that the House would have 3,400 members. If it's truly the "people's house", the population per district should be small enough where Congressional staffs don't have to be sized in the dozens in order to serve constituents.

[progressive85]

Around 500,000, even half a million is a lot of people to represent in the lower house, but the country's so big.  When it goes into the 700,000s I think it's getting too high.

I would expand the House to probably 501 seats if I could make a decision about it.  501 seats would have more than 600,000 people in each district though.  (Total population of USA = 331.9 m in 2021)

I think DC needs a fully voting seat, and I'd give one each to the territories too.  The rest would be allocated based on population, and who lost out on seats in the 2020 census.

It'll probably stay at 435 for a very very long time though.

[bagelman]

Quarter million would be a major improvement.

[Born to Slay. Forced to Work.]

In my opinion, it should be 100,000. I don't care that the House would have 3,400 members. If it's truly the "people's house", the population per district should be small enough where Congressional staffs don't have to be sized in the dozens in order to serve constituents.

What congressional staffs are that large? When I worked in Clyburn’s district office there were, at most, ten people who actually worked in the district. His DC staff was larger sure but they weren’t the ones who usually worked on constituent service as much, more legislative and media types.

[gerritcole]

Cube root rule is like 693 seats which is high 400K population per district

[Born to Slay. Forced to Work.]

Cube root rule is like 693 seats which is high 400K population per district

I’ve actually been working on a cube root map (plus PR and Guam) atm

[Progressive Pessimist]

The Wyoming rule.