The method for calculating the apportionment has changed over time. The methods used through most of this century have been based upon the use of a mathematically determined priority listing of states. Adopted by congress in 1941 and used through the 1990 census, the method of equal proportions also results in a listing of the states according to a priority value--calculated by dividing the population of each state by the geometric mean of its current and next seats--that assigns seats 51 through 435. This will be the method used in Census 2000, according to provisions of Title 2, U.S. Code.
For a technical description of how the method of equal proportions was used in developing the 1990 apportionment counts, see Computing Apportionment.
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