Question 14.44

image 14. The new states paradox. The census of 1900 recorded the following apportionment populations:

Maine 694,466
New York 7,264,183
United States 74,562,608

The house size was 386. Apportionment was by the Hamilton method.

  1. Determine the quotas of New York and Maine. Given that New York was the last state to receive its upper quota, determine the numbers of seats that were apportioned to these two states.
  2. In 1907, Oklahoma became a state. Its population was stipulated to be 1,000,000 for the purpose of apportionment. Using the standard divisor that you found in part (a), determine the apportionment for Oklahoma.
  3. Add the stipulated population of Oklahoma to the 1900 population of the United States, and the number of seats that you found in part (b) to the house size before Oklahoma became a state. With these data, find out if the numbers of seats apportioned to New York and Maine changed. (New York and Maine actually retained their 1902 apportionments.)