Transcript flaws in apportionment

 There are three situations where common sense fails in
regards to an apportionment…
Alabama Paradox
 An increase in the total number of items to
be apportioned results in the loss of an item
for a group.
Alabama Paradox
 In 1880, the size of Congress increased from 299
members to 300 members, and after
reapportionment Alabama went from 8
representatives to only 7 (two other states gained a
representative!)
Population Paradox
 Group A loses items to Group B even though
the population of Group A grew at a faster
rate than that of Group B.
New States Paradox
 The addition of a new group changes the
apportionments of other groups.


The new group brings with it an additional
amount of allocated items based on the standard
divisor.
After re-calculating the standard divisor based
on the new numbers, the apportionments
change.
New States Paradox
 In 1907, Oklahoma became a state and was given
5 seats based on their population. When the
House changed from 386 members to 391
members everything should have remained the
same. Instead, Maine went from 3 seats to 4, and
New York went from 38 seats down to 37!
Homework
 But, of course…
 P.771-772;
 #1, 2, 6, 9, 10