1. What is the demographic composition of Congress and why does it not reflect the national population? Include a typical biography of a member of Congress.
Members of Congress are far from typical Americans, but they have many characteristics in common including that 90% are male and well-educated. Over 2/3s of the members hold advanced degrees. All but three senators are college graduates; 399 representatives share that honor. They are mostly from upper-middle or upper income background, and most are Protestants. Lately, there is a greater proportion of Roman Catholics and Jewish. A Muslim and two Buddhists were elected in 2006. Most members are white with a handful of African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans. Many members of both housest inherited wealth, yet their educational attainment is far higher than the average American's. Almost 250 members of Congress are millionaires. The Senate is sometimes called the Millionaire Club. The median worth of a senator in 2008 was $1.7 million, while the median net worth of a House member was $75,000. The average age of senators is about 60; representatives average around 55. 40% of the Congress is filled with lawyers, others are business owners or officers, professors and teachers, clergy, and farmers. The fact that the members of Congress represent well-to-do Americans has been a controversial topic in recent years. Some argue that the composition of Congress does not provide adequate representation for ordinary Americans. Others believe that a group of demographically average Americans would have difficulty making major policy decisions and that elites can represent people who have different person characteristics from themselves.
Over time Congress has gradually become less male and less white. The 1992 elections saw a record number of women, African Americans, and other minorities elected to Congress. By the 111th Congress, the total number of women increased to at least 74 in the House and 17 in the Senate. Between 1950-2005 the number of women senators increased by 12, and female representatives have increased from 10 to 68. In 2006 a record number of 90 women were elected to the 110th Congress. There were 40 representatives in the 109th Congress as compared to 2 in the 82nd. Although there was only one black senator in the 109th to the 110th Congress. The House went from 23 to 26 Hispanics, while the Senate went from 2 to 3 Hispanic members. In 2009, the number of African Americans serving in the House held steady at 39. Until his election to the presidency, Barack Obama was the only African American in the Senate. In the 111th Congress, only 24 Hispanics serve in the House. Three Hispanics serve in the Senate today. Also serving in the 111th Congress are 2 members of Asian or Pacific Islander heritage in the Senate and five in the House of Representatives. Only one American Indian, Tome Cole serves in the 111th Congress. Until now there have been 45 Jews who have served on the Senate and there are 32 Jews that have served on the House of Representatives.
The 110th Congress demonstrated characteristics of elitism while also representing average Americans. Higher education was evident with almost 400 members holding bachelor degrees, 124 master's degrees and 22 with doctoral degrees, 236 members had law degrees. Four members were graduates of the U.S. Military Academics while two senators were Rhode Scholars. However, in the same Congress were carpenters, bank tellers, a furniture salesman, a waitress, a paper mill worker, a taxicab driver and a river boat captain among others.
Well, like Prutha said (except a little more condensed), Congress used to consist mainly of all white, middle-aged, educated males of the Christian religion. Recently though, it has begun to become more and more diverse as an increasing number of women and people of different cultures and races are being elected into Congress. There are currently 357 men in the Congress and 78 women. The racial division is split between Whites (332 in the House, 81 in the Senate), Blacks (42 in the House, 1 in the Senate), Jews (30 in the House, 14 in the Senate), Hispanics (25 in the House, 2 in the Senate), Asians (5 in the House, 1 in the Senate), and one Native-American (In the House). However, there's still the concern about whether or not this newer composition of Congress affects the way they function as a representative body; the answer is yes. Although Congress has gained a bit of diversity in the recent years, it still doesn't really reflect the American society as a whole. Why? Well, let's see. In general, the typical Congressman is still a married white man between the ages of 40 and 60 and is of a Christian-Catholic religion. They're normally from a somewhat wealthy background and have probably never had to live an "average American" life. So take a look at America. This isn't even close to what we consist of. In fact, our nation is so incredibly diverse that, in my opinion, Congress is always going to have a hard time trying to reflect our society as a whole.
Members of Congress are far from typical Americans, but they have many characteristics in common including that 90% are male and well-educated. Over 2/3s of the members hold advanced degrees. All but three senators are college graduates; 399 representatives share that honor. They are mostly from upper-middle or upper income background, and most are Protestants. Lately, there is a greater proportion of Roman Catholics and Jewish. A Muslim and two Buddhists were elected in 2006. Most members are white with a handful of African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans. Many members of both housest inherited wealth, yet their educational attainment is far higher than the average American's. Almost 250 members of Congress are millionaires. The Senate is sometimes called the Millionaire Club. The median worth of a senator in 2008 was $1.7 million, while the median net worth of a House member was $75,000. The average age of senators is about 60; representatives average around 55. 40% of the Congress is filled with lawyers, others are business owners or officers, professors and teachers, clergy, and farmers. The fact that the members of Congress represent well-to-do Americans has been a controversial topic in recent years. Some argue that the composition of Congress does not provide adequate representation for ordinary Americans. Others believe that a group of demographically average Americans would have difficulty making major policy decisions and that elites can represent people who have different person characteristics from themselves.
ReplyDeleteOver time Congress has gradually become less male and less white. The 1992 elections saw a record number of women, African Americans, and other minorities elected to Congress. By the 111th Congress, the total number of women increased to at least 74 in the House and 17 in the Senate. Between 1950-2005 the number of women senators increased by 12, and female representatives have increased from 10 to 68. In 2006 a record number of 90 women were elected to the 110th Congress. There were 40 representatives in the 109th Congress as compared to 2 in the 82nd. Although there was only one black senator in the 109th to the 110th Congress. The House went from 23 to 26 Hispanics, while the Senate went from 2 to 3 Hispanic members. In 2009, the number of African Americans serving in the House held steady at 39. Until his election to the presidency, Barack Obama was the only African American in the Senate. In the 111th Congress, only 24 Hispanics serve in the House. Three Hispanics serve in the Senate today. Also serving in the 111th Congress are 2 members of Asian or Pacific Islander heritage in the Senate and five in the House of Representatives. Only one American Indian, Tome Cole serves in the 111th Congress. Until now there have been 45 Jews who have served on the Senate and there are 32 Jews that have served on the House of Representatives.
The 110th Congress demonstrated characteristics of elitism while also representing average Americans. Higher education was evident with almost 400 members holding bachelor degrees, 124 master's degrees and 22 with doctoral degrees, 236 members had law degrees. Four members were graduates of the U.S. Military Academics while two senators were Rhode Scholars. However, in the same Congress were carpenters, bank tellers, a furniture salesman, a waitress, a paper mill worker, a taxicab driver and a river boat captain among others.
Well, like Prutha said (except a little more condensed), Congress used to consist mainly of all white, middle-aged, educated males of the Christian religion. Recently though, it has begun to become more and more diverse as an increasing number of women and people of different cultures and races are being elected into Congress. There are currently 357 men in the Congress and 78 women. The racial division is split between Whites (332 in the House, 81 in the Senate), Blacks (42 in the House, 1 in the Senate), Jews (30 in the House, 14 in the Senate), Hispanics (25 in the House, 2 in the Senate), Asians (5 in the House, 1 in the Senate), and one Native-American (In the House). However, there's still the concern about whether or not this newer composition of Congress affects the way they function as a representative body; the answer is yes. Although Congress has gained a bit of diversity in the recent years, it still doesn't really reflect the American society as a whole. Why? Well, let's see. In general, the typical Congressman is still a married white man between the ages of 40 and 60 and is of a Christian-Catholic religion. They're normally from a somewhat wealthy background and have probably never had to live an "average American" life. So take a look at America. This isn't even close to what we consist of. In fact, our nation is so incredibly diverse that, in my opinion, Congress is always going to have a hard time trying to reflect our society as a whole.
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