The Case for Enlarging the House of Representatives

This report makes the case for expanding the House of Representatives to bring the American people a little closer to their government, and their government closer to them. The report takes as a premise that political institutions, civic culture, and civil society reinforce one another. A nation may have impeccably designed bodies of government, but it also needs an engaged citizenry to ensure these institutions function as intended. As a result, Our Common Purpose argues that reforming only one of these areas is insufficient. Progress must be made across all three. To build a better democracy, the United States needs better-functioning institutions as well as a healthier political culture and a more resilient civil society. Expanding the House would not just reform one of the nation’s oldest political institutions: it would help reduce barriers between voters and their representatives, in the process helping to restore trust in American government.