Understanding the Alabama Paradox

The video tutorial explains the Alabama Paradox, a situation in apportionment where increasing the total number of items can decrease one of the shares. It provides historical examples involving Alabama and Colorado and demonstrates the paradox using Hamilton's Method. The tutorial compares apportionment results with different numbers of seats and discusses the implications of the Quota Rule, highlighting that the Alabama Paradox can occur with Hamilton's Method but not with other apportionment methods.

What is the Alabama Paradox?

• A situation where increasing the total number of items decreases one of the shares.

• A situation where increasing the total number of items increases all shares.

• A situation where decreasing the total number of items increases one of the shares.

• A situation where decreasing the total number of items decreases all shares.

After the 1880 census, what was discovered about Alabama's seats?

• Alabama gained a seat with a house size of 300.

• Alabama lost a seat with a house size of 300.

• Alabama lost a seat with a house size of 299.

• Alabama gained a seat with a house size of 299.

In the 1900 census example, what happened to Colorado's seats at a house size of 357?

• Colorado gained an extra seat.

• Colorado gained two extra seats.

• Colorado lost a seat.

• Colorado's seats remained the same.

What is Hamilton's Method used for?

• To calculate the total population of a country.

• To allocate resources among different sectors.

• To apportion seats among states based on population.

• To determine the number of states in a country.

How is the standard divisor calculated in Hamilton's Method?

• By dividing the total population by the total number of seats.

• By dividing the number of states by the total population.

• By dividing the total population by the number of states.

• By dividing the total number of seats by the total population.

In the example with 10 seats, which state received the extra seat?

• State A

• State B

• State C

• None of the states

When the seats increased from 10 to 11, which states gained an extra seat?

• State C only

• State A and State C

• State B and State C

• State A and State B

What happens to smaller states in the Alabama Paradox?

• They lose all their seats.

• Their fair share increases faster than larger states.

• They gain more seats than larger states.

• Their fair share increases slower than larger states.

Which method can lead to the Alabama Paradox?

• Divisor Method

• Hamilton's Method

• Proportional Method

• Quota Method

What does the Quota Rule state?

• A state's representatives should be exactly equal to its quota.

• A state's representatives should be double its quota.

• A state's representatives should be within one of its quota.

• A state's representatives should be half its quota.