The number of people represented by each member of the U.S. House of Representatives has more than tripled since the size of the House was permanently set at 435 members in the early 20th Century. How does the size of the House of Representatives compare to similar legislative bodies in other democracies? Should the number of representatives be increased in the House right now? Would representation be improved if more representatives were added? Why or why not? Is there a limit to the size the House can reach before it cannot operate effectively and efficiently as a legislative body? Explain your position on this question.
The purpose of the essays is to provide students an opportunity to discuss a key concept or topic in American politics and to show a basic understanding of academic research and reporting skills. Students should offer evidence for their arguments. Answers should take the form of arguments instead of being a collection of information. Thus, submissions that are more comprehensive and detailed will earn a higher point total. The minimum word count is in the prompt. Submissions MUST include one Works Cited page (Note: there must be a parenthetical citation at the end of each sentence that contains information from a source). The textbook can be one of the sources included on the works cited page (sources other than the textbook may/should be used as well).
Avoid moral arguments in your work. I have no interest in reading manifestos. Make an argument and support it without being normative. What something “should” or “ought” to be does not matter in these assignments. “Good”, “bad”, “right”, and “wrong” need be limited in usage. If it invokes serious emotion in you, then it probably does not belong in your Writing Assignment.
