The U.S. Census and the Amazing Apportionment Machine

Apportionment is the process of dividing the seats in the House of Representatives among the 50 states based on the population figures collected during the decennial census. The number of seats in the House has grown with the country. Congress sets the number in law and increased the number to 435 in 1913. The Constitution set the number of representatives at 65 from 1787 until the first Census of 1790, when the it was increased to 105 members.

But how does apportionment actually work? Through animation, the U.S. Census Bureau helps explain how the apportionment formula is used to ensure equal representation for all, just like the Founding Fathers planned.

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Election count as you've never seen it before

After five weeks of campaigning and 14 million votes, there is no clear winner from the federal election. Neither Labor nor the Coalition has won enough to seats to win power its own right. We have a hung Parliament for the first time in 70 years. Take a closer look at the state of play at the Australian election count. News.com.au election data visualisation showed you the Australian Electoral Commission's count live. Instead of presenting the count as a map, they've made each electorate into a little ball, which pulses and swings and fights for position against 149 others.

via www.news.com.au
(Click here to see an interactive graphic)