Definition

Noun: 1. The act or process of apportioning something again or differently. This is the general meaning, referring to the redistribution of any divisible resource, responsibility, or representation based on a new calculation or changed circumstances. 2. (U.S. Politics) The reallocation of congressional seats among the states based on decennial census results. This is a specific, formal application of the term, mandated by the U.S. Constitution to ensure the House of Representatives reflects population changes.

Usage Examples

• General Usage:
  • The reapportionment of the company's budget gave more funds to the research department.
  • After the merger, a reapportionment of managerial duties was necessary.
• U.S. Political Context:
  • Following the 2020 census, the reapportionment of House seats shifted political power to several southern and western states.
  • The state lost a representative due to the latest congressional reapportionment.

Advanced Usage

• "Reapportionment cycle": Refers to the regular, decennial process tied to the U.S. census.
  • The political parties began preparing for the next reapportionment cycle years in advance.
• Contrast with "Redistricting": While often mentioned together, they are distinct. determines how many seats a state gets. is the subsequent process of drawing the boundaries of the electoral districts within a state.

Variants and Related Words

• Reapportion (verb): To apportion again.
  • The committee voted to reapportion the available resources.
• Apportionment (noun): The act of dividing and assigning proportionally. (This is the root concept).
• Redistricting (noun): The process of drawing electoral district boundaries.

Synonyms

• Redistribution
• Reallocation
• Reassignment

Antonyms

• Retention (of existing allocation)
• Fixed allocation

Noun

1. a new apportionment (especially a new apportionment of congressional seats in the United States on the basis of census results)