The election districts for each state legislature and the United States House of Representatives are determined by the state legislature in each individual state. The election districts are drawn every 10 years.
A state could elect senators and representatives after the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1788, which established the framework for the federal government. Senators were to be elected by state legislatures until the 17th Amendment was ratified in 1913, allowing for direct election by the people. Representatives have always been directly elected by the voters in their districts since the Constitution's inception. Each state determines its own election processes and timelines for these elections.
The U.S. Constitution originally provided that state legislatures would select Senators, as outlined in Article I, Section 3. This meant that each state legislature would appoint two Senators to represent the state in the federal government. However, this system was changed by the 17th Amendment, ratified in 1913, which established the direct election of Senators by the people. Representatives in the House of Representatives, on the other hand, have always been elected directly by the voters in their districts.
They are always elected by the people for the Senate and The House of Representatives.
This is a bad question because it implies a change took place. In fact, the way House of Representatives legislatures were chosen has always been the same: "House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States." Article I, Section II
The expansion of backcountry districts increased democratic representation in state legislatures by giving a voice to a broader segment of the population, particularly rural and less affluent citizens who had previously been marginalized. As these districts emerged, they often challenged the dominance of established political elites in urban areas, leading to a more diverse set of interests being represented. This shift allowed for the election of representatives who were more attuned to the needs and concerns of backcountry constituents, fostering a more inclusive political environment. Ultimately, this expansion helped to democratize state legislatures by making them more reflective of the population as a whole.
Thomas Jefferson's first term and the election of John Quincy Adams were determined by the House.
multiparty districts
The last election for the representatives was in 2003
When voting for the representatives for the House, the state gets divided into several districts. They are divided so that each district all has almost the same population. Each districts then vote for one representative, and the candidate who wins becomes one of the representatives for that state. So basically, the candidates that are running are not getting votes from the whole state but only in that one district that they're from.
single member districts
Under the Constitution, state legislatures chose the US Senators for their state. Until the passage of the 17th Amendment in 1913, state legislatures were the bodies who determined how senators were chosen. Some states and territories had already enacted popular election prior to the amendment's passage.
Representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives are elected for two-year terms by the voters in the legislative districts in each state. Representatives serve a two-year term of office, and all 435 seats come up for election at once, in even-numbered years.