How many members are in the House of Representatives?

435 apportioned seats and 433 current voting members

Federal law fixes the number of apportioned voting seats at 435. The House explains the seat count and the law behind it.

A seat is an elected place in the House. A member is the person serving in that seat. A vacancy leaves an apportioned seat empty, so the current member count can fall.

What about delegates?

The House also has five delegates and one resident commissioner. They represent the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories.

These six members can introduce bills and serve on committees. They cannot vote when the full House decides legislation. The official House overview lists their roles and jurisdictions.

How vacancies affect the count

A representative may resign, die, or leave office for another reason. The seat stays vacant until voters choose a replacement in a special election.

The 2 vacancies as of September 2, 2026, do not change the 435 apportioned seats. They reduce the current count to 433 voting members. Check the House Clerk’s current vacancy list for updates.

How long House terms last

Representatives serve two-year terms. Voters elect every voting seat in each even-numbered year. Members may seek reelection without a federal term limit.

Article I sets the two-year term. Read the Constitution Annotated explanation from Congress.gov.

How states get House seats

Apportionment divides the 435 seats among the 50 states after each 10-year census. Each state gets at least one seat.

The Census Bureau assigns the other 385 seats with the method of equal proportions. Its apportionment guide explains the calculation and timeline.

State legislatures or independent commissions then draw districts under state law. Apportionment assigns seats to states. Redistricting decides each district’s boundaries.

How the House reached 435 seats

The Constitution set the first apportionment for the 1st and 2nd Congresses. The House historian’s apportionment history explains how Congress later fixed the House at 435 seats.

1. 1. The Act of August 8, 1911 set the House at 435 seats. That total included two seats reserved for Arizona and New Mexico.
2. 2. The 63rd Congress (1913 to 1915) was the first with 435 members.
3. 3. Congress passed no reapportionment after the 1920 census because it could not agree on a method.
4. 4. The Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929 capped the House at 435 seats.
5. 5. In 1941, Congress permanently adopted the method of equal proportions to divide seats among the states.

From membership to recorded votes

A roll call records each voting member as Yea, Nay, Present, or Not Voting. Learn how to find your representative’s votes on official House records.