Writing Exercises 4

September 10, 2019

By: Airah Magbuhos
Ged102/A49
MAGBUHOS, Airah V. GED102/A49
2018103938 Sir Floro Deogracias Llacuna

Assignment 1 (p130)

1. Explain the Alabama Paradox

The Alabama Paradox refers to the pathologicial scenario of the Hamilton method in
which an increase in the total number of seats in the legislature would cause an electoral
district or political party to lose a seat.

For example:

Party Votes

A 56.7%

B 38.5%

C 4.2%

D 0.6%

With 323 seats, the Hamilton method gives:

Party Quotas Seats

A 183.141 183

B 124.355 124

C 13.566 14

D 1.938 2

But with 324 seats:

Party Quotas Seats

A 183.708 184

B 124.740 125

C 13.608 13

D 1.944 2
 The Alabama Paradox is named after the 1880 observation by U.S. census clerk C.W.
Seaton that the state of Alabama would lose one of its 8 seats in the House of
Representatives if the size of the House were increased from 299 to 300.

2. Describe a Population Paradox

-The population paradox is a counterintuitive result of some procedures for
apportionment. When two states have populations increasing at different rates, a small
state with rapid growth can lose a legislative seat to a big state with slower growth.

Some of the earlier Congressional apportionment methods, such as Hamilton, could

exhibit the population paradox. In 1900, Virginia lost a seat to Maine, even though
Virginia's population was growing more rapidly. However, divisor methods such as the
current method do not.

3. Explain the New States Paradox

Given a fixed number of total representatives (as determined by the United States House of
Representatives), adding a new state would in theory reduce the number of representatives for
existing states, as under the United States Constitution each state is entitled to at least one
representative regardless of its population. Also, even if the number of members in the House of
Representatives is increased by the number of Representatives in the new state, a pre-existing
state could lose a seat because of how the apportionment rules deal with rounding methods. In
1907, when Oklahoma became a state, it was given a fair share of seats and the total number of
seats increased by that number. The House increased from 386 to 391 members. A re-
computation of apportionment affected the number of seats because of other states: New York
lost a seat while Maine gained one.