How many seats are in the US House of Representatives?

[dem629]

Don't answer so fast! :)

I know there are 435 members, but how many actual seats?

Is there an actual physical division between the two sides? Are there ever so many member of one party that they sit on the "other side of the aisle" as the cliche goes?

Who knows their House trivia? I don't.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. It used to be

that the Representatives were seated according to seniority and not by party affiliation, but I'm not sure if that was official or just expedient. This was back in the days of Tip O'Neill, so things have probably changed since then.

[DURHAM D]

2. The aisle is a "moving" demarcation. eom

[Staph]

3. According to the Office of the Clerk of the House....

The House Floor

Unlike the Members of the Senate, Members of the House have no assigned seats but are by tradition divided by party; Members of the Democratic Party sit to the Speaker's right and Members of the Republican Party sit to his left.

Among the 448 permanent seats on the House Floor are four tables, or two on each side. These tables are occupied by Members of the Committee that have brought a bill to the floor for consideration and by the respective party leadership.

Members address the House from microphones at any table or "the well," the area immediately in front of the rostrum.

http://clerk.house.gov/art_history/art_artifacts/virtual_tours/house_chamber/index.html