What is reapportionment?

Reapportionment is defined as the process of reassigning representation in a legislative body based on changes in population. In the context of the United States, this typically occurs every ten years following the census, which collects data about the population across various states and districts. As populations grow or decline, congressional seats in the House of Representatives are redistributed among the states to ensure that representation is proportional to population size.

This process ensures that each state's representation reflects its current population, thus maintaining the principle of equal representation in government. As populations shift—for example, if more people move to one state than another—some states may gain seats while others may lose them. This helps to ensure that all citizens have fair and equitable representation relative to their numbers.

The other options do not accurately describe reapportionment. While increasing or reducing representation and districts may stem from or be affected by reapportionment, the central definition revolves around the reassignment of congressional representation based on population changes.