this post was submitted on 30 Jan 2025
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[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 82 points 6 days ago (2 children)

The constitution originally said that we’d have one representative for every 30,000 people.

Which means the House should have about 11,000 members.

[–] WhiteRabbit_33@lemmy.world 47 points 6 days ago (2 children)

I looked this up to find a source because I'd never heard it. From what I can find, it's one of a few unratified amendments, but this one was proposed in 1789. Sure would've been great if they'd have ratified something like this.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Apportionment_Amendment

[–] MNByChoice@midwest.social 36 points 6 days ago (1 children)

As Congress did not set a time limit for its ratification, the Congressional Apportionment Amendment is still pending before the states. As of 2025, it is one of six unratified amendments.

Still an option.

[–] IDKWhatUsernametoPutHereLolol@lemmy.dbzer0.com 23 points 6 days ago (1 children)

By the end of 1791, the amendment was only one state short of adoption. However, when Kentucky attained statehood on June 1, 1792, the number of necessary ratifications climbed to twelve, and, even though Kentucky ratified the amendment that summer (along with the other eleven amendments), the measure was still one state short. No additional states ratified this amendment.

ONE FUCKING STATE SHORT

🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

[–] MNByChoice@midwest.social 8 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

Interesting, how close are we today?

No additional states ratified this amendment. With 50 states today, 27 additional ratifications are necessary to reach the required threshold of 38 ratifications needed for this amendment to become part of the Constitution.

Every state west the East Coast, except Kentucky, has yet to approve it.

Edit: Some East Coast states have also not ratified it.

This amendment aint happening

We have a better chance of just uncaping the house as a law.

[–] Infynis@midwest.social 9 points 6 days ago

Important details from that link

The U.S. House of Representatives' maximum number of seats has been limited to 435, capped at that number by the Reapportionment Act of 1929—except for a temporary (1959–1962) increase to 437 when Alaska and Hawaii were admitted into the Union

So, as long as the population hasn't increased since 1929, everyone is getting appropriate representation lol

[–] Pilferjinx@lemmy.world 16 points 6 days ago (1 children)

We have the tech to no longer need representative government. Fuck those corporate sell outs, let me represent myself directly.

[–] AlligatorBlizzard@sh.itjust.works 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Maybe you're willing to, but we can't even get a majority of Americans to vote once every four years.

(I've served in student government a few times, and while not directly applicable it was still eye opening - a lot of stuff will not affect you personally but you need to give a shit as an "elected" official because everything effects someone. I put elected in quotes because the first time I got talked into it and the second time happened because nobody else was willing - it's deeply boring work most of the time.)

[–] howrar@lemmy.ca 6 points 5 days ago

It doesn't have to be one or the other. You can have representatives by default while allowing anyone to override that vote for themselves.

[–] jaggedrobotpubes@lemmy.world 20 points 5 days ago

Not small enough. Keep going.

Get those standards up.

[–] Zoomboingding@lemmy.world 22 points 6 days ago

Check out CGP Grey's Rules for Rulers. It details the power dynamics of any ruling body and shows why authoritarians need to have small cabinets.

[–] Kitathalla@lemy.lol 12 points 6 days ago

It's amusing to me that there isn't all that much difference between panels three and four. Orders still have to be passed down the chain to the people doing the work, so there are still at least six people immediately below the jackass.

[–] GraniteM@lemmy.world 11 points 6 days ago

There are people who, disturbed by "big government" today and its tendency to curb the advantages they might gain if their competitiveness were allowed free flow, demand "less govern- ment." Alas, there is no such thing as less government, merely changes in government. If the libertarians had their way, the distant bureaucracy would vanish and the local bully would be in charge. Personally, I prefer the distant bureaucracy, which may not find me, over the local bully, who certainly will. And all historical precedent shows a change to localism to be for the worse.

—Nice Guys Finish First, collected in The Sun Shines Bright, 1981

[–] lowleveldata@lemmy.world 11 points 6 days ago (1 children)

What makes you think you'd be the remaining one tho

[–] Lux@lemmy.blahaj.zone 26 points 6 days ago (1 children)

What makes you think they want "smaller" government? It doesn't matter who the autocrat is, putting all the power in one person's hands sucks for everyone

[–] Empricorn@feddit.nl 7 points 6 days ago (1 children)
[–] LostWon@lemmy.ca 3 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Nah, everyone. It would suck for them much less than everyone else, but still suck in a different way. Narcissists aren't happy people no matter what they manage to achieve.