1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to express my deep concern over the lasting and detrimental effects of the Permanent Reapportionment Act of 1929, particularly Section 22, which has significantly distorted the principles of fair representation in our democratic process. As you are aware, the framers of our Constitution initially envisioned a much closer relationship between representatives and their constituents. George Washington himself argued for districts of no more than 30,000 people, as he and other founding fathers recognized the critical importance of representatives genuinely reflecting the will and interests of the people they serve. However, since the enactment of the Reapportionment Act of 1929, the size of congressional districts has ballooned, with current districts representing an average of 700,000 individuals. This reality starkly contrasts with the framers' vision and has allowed wealth and name recognition to become the dominant factors in our elections, reducing the accessibility and accountability of our representatives. The capping of House seats in 1929 has had numerous negative effects on our democratic system, contributing to the rise of gerrymandering, increasing the influence of money in politics, and undermining the core principle of equal representation. Repealing Section 22 of the Reapportionment Act would address many of these issues, including making gerrymandering more difficult and reducing the financial burden required to run a competitive campaign. Moreover, it would restore a closer relationship between representatives and their constituents, strengthening the foundation of our representative democracy. I urge you to take a stand against this antiquated law that no longer serves the people and to support efforts to repeal Section 22. Such a repeal would honor the original intent of our founders and help restore fairness and integrity to our political system. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I would appreciate your support in ensuring that our government remains truly representative of the people.