Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 28th Amendment?

The 28th Amendment is a proposed constitutional amendment that would establish proportional representation in the U.S. House of Representatives. Instead of winner-take-all elections in single-member districts, it would ensure that the composition of Congress reflects the actual diversity of American political thought.

How is this different from how we vote now?

Currently, each congressional district elects one representative, and whoever gets the most votes wins everything. This means if you're in the minority in your district - whether you're a conservative in a liberal area or a progressive in a conservative area - you effectively have no representation.

Under the 28th Amendment, larger regions would elect multiple representatives proportionally. If 40% of voters in a region support one approach and 60% support another, both groups would have representation - not just the majority.

Does this favor one political party over another?

No. Proportional representation benefits any group that's currently underrepresented in their area - regardless of ideology. Conservatives in blue states, progressives in red states, libertarians, greens, and independents everywhere would all benefit from a system that translates votes into representation more fairly.

Would this eliminate local representation?

Representatives would still represent specific regions, just larger ones with multiple members. In practice, representatives often specialize in serving particular communities within their region. Many other democracies use this system while maintaining strong local connections.

Has this been tried anywhere else?

Yes! Most democracies around the world use some form of proportional representation, including Germany, Sweden, Ireland, New Zealand, and many others. These systems consistently produce legislatures that more accurately reflect voter preferences and require coalition-building to govern.

How would this affect gerrymandering?

Proportional representation essentially eliminates the incentive to gerrymander. When representation is proportional, there's no benefit to drawing district lines to favor one party - every vote counts equally regardless of where lines are drawn.

What about the Senate?

This amendment focuses on the House of Representatives, which was designed to be "the people's chamber" - directly representing the population. The Senate, with its equal representation of states, would remain unchanged.

How would we actually pass a constitutional amendment?

Constitutional amendments require either:

• Two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate, followed by ratification by 38 states
• A constitutional convention called by 34 state legislatures, followed by ratification by 38 states

It's a high bar intentionally - the Constitution shouldn't be changed lightly. But when something is important enough, Americans have amended it 27 times before.

Is this realistic?

Constitutional amendments are difficult but not impossible. The most recent amendment (the 27th) was ratified in 1992. What's needed is broad public support across political lines. The 28th Amendment has that potential because it benefits people regardless of their political views - everyone deserves real representation.

How can I help?

Sign up for updates to stay informed about the movement. Share information with friends and family. Contact your representatives to let them know you support electoral reform. Visit our How to Help page for more ways to get involved.