APPORTIONMENT

Apportionment is a method of allocating or distributing a whole proportionally

into various parts.

There are two (2) methods that can be used in apportionment. These are
Hamilton Plan and Jefferson Plan.

1. Hamilton Plan
- A method which is based on standard divisor and standard quota of the
population.

𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 (𝑃)

𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝐷𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑟 (𝑆𝐷) =
𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑃

𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑄𝑢𝑜𝑡𝑎 (𝑆𝑄) =
𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝐷𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑟

*Where the highest SQ is only rounded up to a whole number once the total
number of allocation is reached.

Example:

Use Hamilton plan to divide the total population of 20,000 of Anapolis by the
number of 25 representatives. The number of representatives is to be apportioned
according to the states’ respective populations.

State Population
Sagittarius 12,311
Libra 1,798
Capricorn 1,581
Virgo 2,917
Gemini 1,393
Total 20,000

Solution:
 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 (𝑃) 20,000
𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝐷𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑟 (𝑆𝐷) = = = 800
𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 25

𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑒𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑃

𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑄𝑢𝑜𝑡𝑎 (𝑆𝑄) =
𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝐷𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑟

State Population Standard Quota Number of Representatives

12,311
Sagittarius 12,311 𝑆𝑄 = = 15.38875 15 15
800
1,798
Libra 1,798 𝑆𝑄 = = 2.2475 2 2
800
1,581
Capricorn 1,581 𝑆𝑄 = = 1.97625 1 2
800
2,917
Virgo 2,917 𝑆𝑄 = = 3.64625 3 4
800
1,393
Gemini 1,393 𝑆𝑄 = = 1.74125 1 2
800

Total 20,000 22 25

Therefore, using Hamilton plan, Sagittarius should have 15 representatives;

Libra, Capricorn, and Gemini should have 2 representatives each; and there should be
4 representatives from Virgo.

2. Jefferson Plan
- This method uses a trial and error value for the standard divisor. This value is
chosen so that the sum of the standard quotas is equal to the required number of
allocations.

Example:
Using the first example, compute for the allocated representatives for each state
using the Jefferson plan.

Solution:
Supposing the standard divisor to be used is 750.
 Number of
State Population Standard Quota
Representatives
12,311
Sagittarius 12,311 𝑆𝑄 = = 16.4147 16
750
1,798
Libra 1,798 𝑆𝑄 = = 2.3973 2
750
1,581
Capricorn 1,581 𝑆𝑄 = = 2.108 2
750
2,917
Virgo 2,917 𝑆𝑄 = = 3.8893 3
750
1,393
Gemini 1,393 𝑆𝑄 = = 1.8573 1
750

Total 20,000 24

NOTE: (a) If the total number of representatives is lesser than the target number,
use another standard divisor which is lesser than the first divisor being
used.
(b) If the total number of representatives is greater than the target number,
use another standard divisor which is greater than the first divisor being
used.

Since, 24 is less than 25, another standard divisor, which is greater than the first,
is to be used.

Solution (2):
Supposing that 725 is the standard divisor that will be used.

Number of
State Population Standard Quota
Representatives
12,311
Sagittarius 12,311 𝑆𝑄 = = 16.9806 16
725
1,798
Libra 1,798 𝑆𝑄 = = 2.48 2
725
1,581
Capricorn 1,581 𝑆𝑄 = = 2.1806 2
725
 2,917
Virgo 2,917 𝑆𝑄 = = 4.0234 4
725
1,393
Gemini 1,393 𝑆𝑄 = = 1.9213 1
725

Total 20,000 25

Therefore, in using the Jefferson plan, there should be 16 representatives from

Sagittarius, 2 representatives from Libra and Capricorn, 4 representatives from Virgo
and 1 representative from Gemini.

Practice Problem

Suppose that the 18 members of the board of the County Environmental

Organization are selected according to the populations of the five cities in the county, as
shown in the table below, (a) use the Hamilton method to determine the number of
board members each city should have; and (b) use the Jefferson method to determine
the number of board members each city should have.

City Population
Pacific 5,290
Puma 3,720
Villa 1,540
Osana 2,430
Cardinal 7,020
Total ?
Fairness in Apportionment
This is used to determine in which subset an additional representative or
allocation should be given.

In this, average constituency, absolute, and relative unfairness of apportionment,

are to be used.

 Average Constituency – an essential aspect of democracy. The population is

divided by the number of allocations from the subset.

𝑝𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑒𝑡

𝐴𝑣𝑒. 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 =
𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑒𝑡

Example:
Consider the two cities in the table below.

City Population Representatives Average Constituency

8,340
Taguig City 8,340 5 = 1,668
5
16,000
Quezon City 16,000 10 = 1,600
10

Now suppose that one representative will be added to one of the cities.
Which city is more deserving of the new representative? In other words, to be
fair, which city should receive the new representative?

Solution:

Average Constituency Average Constituency

City
(Old) (New – Add 1 Rep)
8340 8340
Taguig City = 1668 = 1390
5 6
16000 16000
Quezon City = 1600 = 1455
10 11
  Absolute Unfairness of an Apportionment – the positive difference between
the average constituency of a subset A and the average constituency of subset
B.

Taguig City’s Quezon City’s

Absolute Unfairness
Average Average
of Apportionment
Constituency Constituency
If Taguig City
will receive the 1,390 1,600
1,600 – 1,390 = 210
additional (New) (Old)
representative
If Quezon City
will receive the 1,668 1,455
1,668 – 1,455 = 213
additional (Old) (New)
representative

 Relative Unfairness of an Apportionment – the quotient of the absolute

unfairness of the apportionment and the average constituency of the subset
receiving an additional allocation.

Absolute Average Relative

Unfairness of Constituency Unfairness of
Apportionment (New) Apportionment
If Taguig City
will receive the 210
210 1,390 = 0.1510
additional 1,390
representative
If Quezon City
will receive the 213
213 1,455 = 0.1464
additional 1,455
representative

Note: When adding an allocation to a subset of a population, the allocation is

assigned to the subset with the smallest relative unfairness of
apportionment.

Since Quezon City has the smallest relative unfairness of apportionment, the
additional representative will be given to this city.
Practice Problem:

The table below shows the number of fourth and fifth grade teachers in a school
district and the number of students in each of those grades. If a new teacher is hired,
use the apportionment principle to determine to which grade the teacher should be
assigned.

Grade Level Number of Teachers Number of Students

Fourth Grade 551 12,731
Fifth Grade 512 15,943

Another method that can be used, to show fairness in apportionment, is the

Huntington-Hill method.

 Huntington-Hill Apportionment Method – is a method of equal proportions. A

Huntington-Hill Number is needed, which can be gotten using the formula blow.

𝑝2
𝐻=
𝑎(𝑎 + 1)

* p is the population of the subset

* a is the number of allocations for that subset

Note: The additional allocation should be given to the subset with the greatest
Huntington-Hill number.

Example:
The table below shows the numbers of lifeguards that are assigned to three
different beaches and the numbers of rescues made by lifeguards at those beaches.
Use the Huntington-Hill apportionment principle to determine to which beach a new
lifeguard should be assigned.

Beach Number of Lifeguards Number of Rescues

X 37 1,272
Y 51 1,437
Z 24 898
Solution:

Number of Number of 𝒑𝟐
Beach 𝑯=
Lifeguards Rescues 𝒂(𝒂 + 𝟏)
(1,272)2
X 37 1,272 = 1,150.7709
37(37 + 1)
(1,437)2
Y 51 1,437 = 778.6459
51(51 + 1)
(898)2
Z 24 898 = 1,344.0066
24(24 + 1)

Since Beach Z has the highest Huntington-Hill number, the additional lifeguard
will be given to this beach.

Practice Problem:

A university has a president’s council that is composed of students from each of

the undergraduate classes. If a new student representative is added to the council, use
the Huntington-Hill apportionment principle to determine which class the new student
council member should represent.

Grade Level Number of Representatives Number of Students

First Year 12 2,015
Second Year 10 1,755
Third Year 9 1,430
Fourth Year 8 1,309
Activity:

1. A total of 25 teacher aides are to be apportioned among seven (7) classes at a

new elementary school. The enrolment in the seven classes is shown in the table
below. Use: (a) Hamilton and (b) Jefferson Principle to determine the number of
teacher aides to be assigned in each class.

Classes Number of Students

Kinder 38
Grade 1 39
Grade 2 35
Grade 3 27
Grade 4 21
Grade 5 31
Grade 6 33
Total 224

2. The table below shows the number of sales associates and the average number
of customers per day at a company’s two department stores. The company is
planning to add a new sales associate to one of the stores. Use the
apportionment principle to determine which store should receive the new
employee.

Shopping Mall Number of Sales Average number of

Location Associates customers
Summer Hill Galleria 587 5289
Seaside Mall Galleria 614 6215
3. The table below shows the numbers of interns and the average number of
patients admitted each day at two different hospitals. Use the Huntington-Hill
apportionment principle to determine to which hospital a new intern should be
assigned.

Average number of
Hospital Number of Interns
patients admitted
A 128 518
B 145 860