Your US Representative: How to Find Who Represents You

Name your U.S. Representative. Answers will vary. You must know the name of your current U.S. Representative when you take the citizenship test. The USCIS officer will ask specifically about who represents your congressional district, so you need to know who represents you right now, not who represented your district in the past.

Every congressional district has exactly one representative. Your district is determined by where you live. District boundaries are drawn by state legislatures and redrawn every ten years after the census. Your representative votes on federal laws, represents your district’s interests in Congress, and helps constituents with federal agencies.

The Essential Facts

For the citizenship test, you must know your current representative’s name. The test will ask specifically about your representative based on your address. You cannot name a representative from a different district or state.

You can find your representative at house.gov using your zip code. You can also search online for “U.S. Representative for [your zip code].” Make sure you have current information, as representatives change when they lose elections, retire, or resign.

As of December 2025, every congressional district has one representative. Some states with small populations have only one representative who serves the entire state at-large. Larger states are divided into multiple districts, each with its own representative.

When studying for your citizenship test, learn your representative’s name thoroughly. Practice saying and spelling it correctly. Know which district you live in, as this may be asked. Learn your representative’s party affiliation, though the test does not ask about this.

Why You Need to Know Your Representative

Your representative votes on laws affecting your daily life. Tax policy, healthcare, education, transportation, and countless other issues go through Congress where your representative votes. They make decisions in your name. Knowing who they are connects you to how these decisions are made.

Representatives are accountable to you as a voter. Every two years, you can vote to reelect your representative or replace them with someone else. You can contact your representative about issues you care about. Their office responds to constituent concerns. They hold town halls where you can voice opinions. But you can only hold them accountable if you know who they are.

The citizenship test asks about your representative because informed citizenship requires knowing who represents you. Voting intelligently requires knowing who currently serves. Participating in democracy means understanding who makes decisions affecting your community.

Representatives differ from senators. Senators represent entire states. Representatives serve specific districts within states. If you live in a large state like California or Texas, your representative serves only your district, but your senators represent all state residents. This makes representatives more connected to local concerns.

Historical Moment

In 1916, Jeannette Rankin of Montana became the first woman elected to Congress. She won as a representative, not a senator, in part because House races were seen as more accessible than Senate races. Montana had only one representative serving the entire state at-large, and Rankin won that seat.

Rankin took office in April 1917. Just four days later, Congress voted on declaring war against Germany. Rankin voted no, one of 50 representatives opposing the declaration. She believed wars should be avoided when possible and that her role was to preserve peace. Her vote cost her politically. She lost her next race partly because voters disapproved of her war vote.

Rankin returned to Congress in 1940, winning Montana’s at-large seat again. A year later, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Congress voted on declaring war against Japan. Rankin again voted no, this time as the only member of Congress to oppose the declaration. She stated, “As a woman I can’t go to war, and I refuse to send anyone else.”

Rankin’s story illustrates both opportunity and accountability in House representation. She could win election as a woman when that was revolutionary. But her votes on war issues cost her electorally because representatives face voters frequently. Knowing your representative means understanding not just their name but their votes and positions.

How You See It Today

Your representative makes decisions affecting you constantly. When Congress debates spending bills, your representative votes on whether your district gets funding for roads, schools, or other projects. When laws are proposed on healthcare, taxes, or regulation, your representative’s vote helps decide whether they pass.

You can contact your representative about issues you care about. Every House office has staff who handle constituent mail, email, and phone calls. While representatives cannot respond personally to every contact, they track constituent opinions. Enough contacts on an issue can influence your representative’s position.

Representatives hold town halls and listening sessions in their districts. They visit communities to hear local concerns. They speak at local events. Engaged citizens attend these events to voice opinions and ask questions. But first you must know who your representative is to know when and where they will appear.

Election years bring opportunities to evaluate your representative’s performance. Every two years, you can vote to reelect them or replace them. Reading about their voting records, what bills they sponsored, and what they accomplished helps you vote informed. Your representative’s actions should matter more than party affiliation or advertising.

The Deeper Story

Congressional districts are drawn by state legislatures in most states. After each census, states redraw district boundaries to reflect population changes. This redistricting process is intensely political. The party controlling a state legislature can draw districts to favor their candidates, a practice called gerrymandering.

Some districts are drawn to be safe for one party. These districts have lopsided partisan majorities, so the representative from the favored party almost always wins. Representatives from safe districts rarely lose reelection. They can build seniority and power over many terms.

Other districts are competitive, with voters split fairly evenly between parties. Representatives from competitive districts face tougher reelection fights. They must appeal to a broader range of voters. They may be more moderate or responsive to district concerns than representatives from safe seats.

Your representative’s effectiveness depends partly on whether their party controls the House. Majority party members have more power. They can chair committees, set the agenda, and advance their priorities. Minority party members have less influence. They can vote and speak but cannot control what gets voted on.

Some representatives become powerful national figures. They run for higher office, chair major committees, or lead on significant legislation. Others focus on their districts, working on local issues rather than seeking national attention. Understanding your representative requires knowing not just their name but their priorities and accomplishments.

Connections That Matter

Knowing your representative connects to understanding federalism. Representatives serve specific districts within states. They represent local interests in national government. Your district’s concerns are represented by your representative when federal policy affects your area specifically.

Your representative relates to checks and balances. The House checks the Senate, requiring both chambers to agree on legislation. The House checks the President through oversight, appropriations, and potential impeachment. Your representative’s votes participate in these checks on other parts of government.

House representation connects to political participation. Democracy requires informed citizens who know who represents them. Voting in House elections meaningfully requires knowing who currently serves and what they have accomplished. Following your representative’s actions helps you understand how well they represent your interests.

For more on what representatives do, see our article on House powers in the uscis-questions category. To understand House elections, explore our explanation of two-year terms. To learn how to contact your representative, read about constituent services.

Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find my current representative?
Visit house.gov and enter your zip code. You can also search online for “U.S. Representative for [your address].” Make sure you find your actual representative, not someone from a different district.

What if my district just elected a new representative?
You need to know who currently serves when you take the test. If your district elected a new representative, learn that person’s name. The test asks about current representatives, not past representatives.

Can representatives change during my application process?
Yes. House elections happen every two years in November. If your district elects a new representative while you are applying for citizenship, you should learn the new representative’s name.

What if I live in a small state?
Some states have only one representative who serves the entire state at-large. If you live in Alaska, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, or Wyoming, you have one representative for the whole state. Learn that person’s name.

Do I need to know their party affiliation?
The test does not ask about party, but knowing which party your representative belongs to helps you understand their likely positions. Democrats and Republicans often vote differently on major issues.

What if my representative is very new?
Learn their name regardless of how long they have served. The test only requires knowing who currently represents your district. Whether they are brand new or have served many terms does not matter for the test.

Can I say “I don’t know” on the test?
No. You must answer correctly. The USCIS officer will not accept “I don’t know” for this question. You must know your current representative’s name. This is a required part of the civics test.

How often should I update this information?
Check before your citizenship test. House elections happen in November of even-numbered years. If your test is after an election, make sure you know if your district elected a new representative. The test asks about current representatives.

What if I recently moved?
Use the representative for your current address. If you moved to a new district, learn your new representative’s name. The test will use your current address to determine which representative serves your district.

What should I memorize for the citizenship test?
Know the full name of your current U.S. Representative. Be able to say and spell the name correctly. Practice saying “My representative is [name].” Make sure your information is current when you take the test. This is a required question you must answer correctly.