Politics with Paul #60: Would More US House Representatives Fix Congress' Problems?
Update: 2025-09-30
Description
The US House of Representatives has remained at 435 members for over a century, despite significant population growth. Could adding more members fix Congress' issues with responsiveness and representativeness of the American people?
In today's episode, we explore that question. Included is the vision of the Framers of the Constitution for the US House, a brief history of the size of the chamber, the biggest arguments made for and against increasing its membership, why it's tricky to expand it, and the ultimate goals of advocates for expanding the US House.
(0:00 ) Intro: Expanding the US House Membership
(2:12 ) The Purpose of the US House
(4:38 ) How the Size of the US House has Changed Over Time
(8:03 ) Arguments Made for Expanding the US House Membership
(9:11 ) Support #1: More Directly Serve American People
(11:49 ) Support #2: Smaller Geographical Boundaries
(12:59 ) Support #3: Wider Demographic Array of Candidates
(15:09 ) Support #4: Third Party and Nonparty Candidates Can Compete
(16:27 ) Support #5: More Competitive Races
(17:42 ) Support #6: Reduces Overrepresentation of Small States
(19:18 ) Arguments Made Against Expanding US House Membership
(19:40 ) Oppose #1: Higher Costs to Pay Congress and Their Staff
(21:39 ) Oppose #2: Harder to Reach Majorities on Legislation
(23:11 ) Oppose #3: Benefits Well-Resourced Interest Groups
(24:12 ) Oppose #4: More Infrastructure Needed
(26:21 ) Oppose #5: Dilutes Power of Rank-and-File Members
(27:50 ) Oppose #6: Bogs Down the Process with Even More Bills
(31:07 ) Trickiness of Getting Support for Expanding the US House
(39:46 ) What is Expanding the US House Ultimately About?
(46:11 ) WE Need to Make Congress More Responsive to Us, Too
(49:57 ) Closing: My Media and My Services
In today's episode, we explore that question. Included is the vision of the Framers of the Constitution for the US House, a brief history of the size of the chamber, the biggest arguments made for and against increasing its membership, why it's tricky to expand it, and the ultimate goals of advocates for expanding the US House.
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(0:00 ) Intro: Expanding the US House Membership
(2:12 ) The Purpose of the US House
(4:38 ) How the Size of the US House has Changed Over Time
(8:03 ) Arguments Made for Expanding the US House Membership
(9:11 ) Support #1: More Directly Serve American People
(11:49 ) Support #2: Smaller Geographical Boundaries
(12:59 ) Support #3: Wider Demographic Array of Candidates
(15:09 ) Support #4: Third Party and Nonparty Candidates Can Compete
(16:27 ) Support #5: More Competitive Races
(17:42 ) Support #6: Reduces Overrepresentation of Small States
(19:18 ) Arguments Made Against Expanding US House Membership
(19:40 ) Oppose #1: Higher Costs to Pay Congress and Their Staff
(21:39 ) Oppose #2: Harder to Reach Majorities on Legislation
(23:11 ) Oppose #3: Benefits Well-Resourced Interest Groups
(24:12 ) Oppose #4: More Infrastructure Needed
(26:21 ) Oppose #5: Dilutes Power of Rank-and-File Members
(27:50 ) Oppose #6: Bogs Down the Process with Even More Bills
(31:07 ) Trickiness of Getting Support for Expanding the US House
(39:46 ) What is Expanding the US House Ultimately About?
(46:11 ) WE Need to Make Congress More Responsive to Us, Too
(49:57 ) Closing: My Media and My Services
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