At Least One Representative

The Founders provided in Article I.2.3 of the United State Constitution, "Each state shall be entitled to have at least one Representative even if it is disproportionate to the rest of the states." This provision in the Constitution is a result of the Great Compromise, which took place during the Constitutional Convention. It gives each state the Right to be represented in Congress without any regard to its population. Each Congressman today represents approximately 500,000 people. This provision insures that states with fewer residents are represented by one Congressman. Alaska is one of a handful of states with only one Representative.