Apportion
Definition
Apportionment is the process of distributing a fixed number of items, such as seats in a legislature, among different groups based on a particular criterion like population size. It aims to ensure proportional representation according to the chosen standard.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
- The apportionment problem often involves dividing seats in a legislative body among various regions or states based on population.
- A standard divisor is calculated by dividing the total population by the number of seats available.
- The standard quota for each group is found by dividing its population by the standard divisor.
- Various methods, such as Hamilton's method and Jefferson's method, are used to resolve fractional quotas into whole numbers.
- Apportionment can lead to paradoxes, like the Alabama Paradox where increasing total seats can result in a loss of seats for some groups.
Review Questions
- How do you calculate the standard divisor in an apportionment problem?
- What are some common methods used to handle fractional quotas in apportionment?
- What is the Alabama Paradox and how does it relate to apportionment?
"Apportion" appears in:
Related terms
Standard Divisor: A value obtained by dividing the total population by the number of items or seats to be apportioned.
Standard Quota: The exact share each group should receive, calculated as its population divided by the standard divisor.
Hamilton's Method: An apportionment method that allocates seats based on standard quotas and distributes any remaining seats to groups with the largest fractional remainders.
