House Expansion Commission Act

Bill Number

H.R. 2797

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Congress

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-04-09: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-03-06T09:07:21Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The House Expansion Commission Act (H.R. 2797) aims to create a temporary commission to examine the current size of the U.S. House of Representatives and propose ways to increase its membership. This addresses the fixed limit of 435 members set in 1929, which has not kept pace with U.S. population growth, potentially leading to larger districts and reduced representation for citizens.

Key Provisions

• Findings Section: Outlines the historical context, noting that the House has been capped at 435 members since 1929 when the U.S. population was about 123 million. Today, it is around 346 million, with each member representing nearly 800,000 people—a number projected to reach 829,000 by 2050. It highlights growing calls for expansion to improve access, diversity, and service to constituents, referencing prior bills like H.R. 622.

• Establishment of the Commission: Creates the "U.S. House of Representatives Expansion Commission" as an independent body to conduct a comprehensive study.

• Duties of the Commission:
• Conduct a study on topics including the link between House size and fair representation; one-time vs. ongoing expansions; methods like the "Cube Root Law" (a formula scaling legislative size with population cubed root) and "Wyoming Rule" (apportioning seats to ensure the smallest state has one representative, then scaling others proportionally); cost and logistical challenges (e.g., offices, staff, voting, funding); international examples; historical reasons for the 1929 cap; impacts on constitutional powers under Article I (which outlines Congress's legislative role); effects on district sizes and underrepresented groups; and overall lawmaking efficiency.
• Consult with key officials, such as the Architect of the Capitol (oversees Capitol buildings) and House administrative leaders.
• Submit a report to the President and Congress within 2 years of its first meeting, including proposals for expanding the House, enhancing its representative role, and addressing challenges.

• Membership and Operations:
• 13 members, none of whom can be current Members of Congress, appointed within 90 days of enactment: 5 by the House Speaker, 5 by the House Minority Leader, 1 by the Senate Majority Leader (former House member), 1 by the Senate Minority Leader (former House member), and 1 Chairperson jointly by House leaders.
• Members serve without pay but receive travel expenses; appointments prioritize expertise in politics, government, math, or statistics.
• Quorum is 7 members; meetings called by the Chairperson or majority.

• Personnel and Powers:
• Appoints a Director (paid up to Executive Schedule Level IV) and staff (without standard federal hiring restrictions, paid up to similar levels).
• Can hire experts/consultants, detail employees from federal agencies, hold hearings, access federal data (under the Freedom of Information Act), receive administrative support, use volunteers and mail services, and enter contracts.

• Termination and Funding: The Commission ends 90 days after its report; authorizes necessary appropriations (funds approved by Congress).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill does not directly alter the 1929 law (the Reapportionment Act, codified at 2 U.S.C. § 2a) that caps the House at 435 members based on decennial census data. Instead, it introduces a new mechanism—a study commission—to evaluate and recommend changes, which could inform future legislation or a constitutional amendment. No immediate expansion occurs; any changes would require separate action by Congress.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Could increase operational demands on House support entities (e.g., more offices, staff, and funding needs if expansion proposals are adopted), affecting the Architect of the Capitol, General Services Administration, and House administrative offices. The Commission itself would temporarily use federal resources for its study.

• On Citizens: If implemented, expansion might lead to smaller congressional districts (e.g., from ~800,000 to fewer constituents per member), potentially improving access to representatives, enhancing diversity in Congress, and better addressing local needs, especially for underrepresented groups.

• On International Relations: No direct impacts; the bill focuses on domestic legislative structure and does not address foreign policy.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Congressional Leaders and Members: House and Senate leaders appoint members; House members could face changes in workload, district sizes, and internal dynamics if expansion occurs.
• Citizens and Constituents: Everyday Americans, particularly in growing or underrepresented areas, who may gain more targeted representation.
• Federal Administrative Entities: Includes the Architect of the Capitol, House Clerk, Sergeant at Arms, and Chief Administrative Officer, who provide input and could manage expanded facilities/staff.
• Experts and Think Tanks: Academics, mathematicians, and policy groups with knowledge of apportionment methods, consulted during the study.
• Broader Public: Advocacy groups pushing for House expansion, as noted in the findings.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The Commission's proposals would not be binding; actual expansion requires congressional approval, potentially via new laws or revisiting apportionment rules. It emphasizes compliance with data access laws like FOIA.

• Constitutional: Ties directly to Article I, Section 2, which mandates House apportionment based on population (via census). Expansion could strengthen the House's role in representing "the People," but altering the size might need a constitutional amendment if it affects state equality in the Senate or electoral processes. The bill avoids overriding the 1929 cap without further steps.

• Political: Could spark debates on representation equity, partisanship in appointments (balanced bipartisan structure), and costs amid fiscal concerns. It promotes non-partisan expertise but may influence power balances by potentially adding seats favoring growing states or diverse voices, without biasing toward any party.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]

Recent Actions

• 2025-04-09: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-04-09: Introduced in House
• 2025-04-09: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• House Expansion Commission Act — issued 2025-04-09 — PDF (10 pages)