Why Some States Have More Representatives: The Census and Q35
Q35 on the 2025 civics test asks: “Some states have more representatives than other states. Why?” The short answer is because of the state’s population. Behind that one line is the census, a fixed number of seats, and a rule that changes the map every ten years. Knowing the “why” makes this question, and four or five neighbors, easy to remember.
The answers USCIS accepts
| Question | Accepted answers (any one) |
|---|---|
| Q35. Some states have more representatives than other states. Why? | Because of the state’s population · Because they have more people · Because some states have more people |
| Q24. How many voting members are in the House of Representatives? | 435 |
| Q33. Who does a member of the House represent? | Citizens (or people) in their congressional district |
| Q34. Who elects members of the House? | Citizens from their congressional district |
| Q27. How many senators does each state have? | Two (2) |
Q28 (Why does each state have two senators?) is the mirror image of Q35. The Senate gives every state equal power, no matter its size. The House gives bigger states more seats. See the full Senate and House block in Congress on the 2025 civics test.
How the seats get divided
- Count everyone. Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution requires a census every 10 years. The 2020 Census counted 331,449,281 residents in the 50 states and D.C.
- Keep the total at 435. The number of voting House seats isn’t in the Constitution. Congress fixed it by law at 435.
- Give every state one seat first. Even the smallest state gets a representative.
- Divide the rest by population. Since the 1940s, the Census Bureau has used a formula called the Method of Equal Proportions to hand out the remaining 385 seats.
- Redraw the districts. Each state then draws its congressional districts, so each member represents roughly the same number of people. That’s why Q33 and Q34 say district.
This process is called apportionment. It happens after every census.
What the 2020 Census changed
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 7 seats shifted among 13 states after 2020:
- Gained seats: Texas (+2), Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon (+1 each)
- Lost one seat: California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia
California, Texas, Florida and New York have the most representatives. Alaska, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming have just one each. On average, one House member now represents about 761,169 people, up from about 710,767 after the 2010 Census.
The next census is in 2030. Its counts will set the seats for the rest of that decade, so some states’ numbers will change again.
What about D.C. and the territories?
D.C. and U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico are not part of apportionment because they have no voting seats in Congress. They send a non-voting delegate (Puerto Rico has a resident commissioner). That’s why the official answer notes for Q23 and Q29 say people in D.C. or a territory should give a special answer. If you live there, learn that note.
The Electoral College link
Each state’s number of electors equals its House seats plus its two senators. So when a state gains or loses House seats after a census, it also gains or loses electoral votes for president. D.C. gets 3 electors under the 23rd Amendment, for a total of 538. If the officer follows up with Q49, see Vice President, Cabinet, and Electoral College.
Test-day traps
- Don’t answer “because they’re bigger states.” Size in miles doesn’t matter. Alaska is the largest state and has one representative. Say population or more people.
- Don’t mix up 100 and 435. 100 senators (Q21), 435 voting House members (Q24).
- Q35 is about the House. If you hear “senators,” the answer is two per state and the reason is equal representation (Q28).
- “Represent” vs. “elect.” A representative represents the people in their district (Q33). They are elected by citizens from their district (Q34).
60-second drill
Say each answer out loud:
- Why does Texas have more representatives than Vermont? → Because Texas has more people.
- How many voting members are in the House? → 435.
- How many senators does each state have? → Two.
- Who does a House member represent? → People in their congressional district.
- How often does the census count people? → Every 10 years. (Good to know, not a test question.)
Then practice the whole System of Government section, try a free practice test, or listen to the answers in Listen mode. You can look up your own senators and representative on My Officials for Q23 and Q29.
Sources: USCIS, 2025 Civics Test 128 questions and answers (Q23, Q24, Q27–Q29, Q33–Q35, Q49), as used on CitizenExams; U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau Today Delivers State Population Totals for Congressional Apportionment (April 26, 2021: 2020 resident population; 435 seats; one seat per state, then Method of Equal Proportions; seats gained and lost; one-seat states; average district size 761,169; D.C. and Puerto Rico not apportioned); U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 2 and the 23rd Amendment. Photo: Pax Ahimsa Gethen, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain).
CitizenExams is an independent study site and is not affiliated with USCIS or the Census Bureau.