Chapter 8 Congress: Members and Elections Section 3 Who Serves in Congress?

© EMC Publishing, LLC Is Congress Elitist? Descriptive representation = Legislature that mirrors the demographics of the people it represents  Members of Congress are often not descriptively representative of their constituents.  Members of Congress are well-educated and tend to be wealthy lawyers and businesspeople.  Most Americans are skilled or semi-skilled service or clerical workers.  People who are poor, less educated, women, and minorities are underrepresented in Congress.

© EMC Publishing, LLC Congressional Occupations  Traditionally, members of Congress have been businessmen, lawyers, and politicians.  The professional background of members is widening.  Current members of Congress include people who have been musicians, morticians, and meat cutters.  Example: Jim Bunning, a Hall of Fame pitcher, was elected to the Senate in 1998 and 2004.

© EMC Publishing, LLC Congressional Education and Income  Members are better educated than the average American. Congress: Most have a college degree, and over 75 percent have a graduate degree. General population: Only 28 percent have a college degree, and 9 percent have a graduate degree.  Members receive a generous salary, and many were millionaires before election.

© EMC Publishing, LLC Female Representation  Women are assuming more positions in Congress.  Their political status has grown with the importance of issues that particularly concern them, like family leave policy.  In 1992, the “Year of the Woman,” women significantly increased their numbers in the House and Senate.  In 2006, Nancy Pelosi was elected as the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives.

© EMC Publishing, LLC Minority Representation  Congressional representation by blacks has steadily increased. Example: Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) heads the House Ways and Means Committee.  Keith Ellison (D-MN) became the first Muslim congressman.  Hispanic populations are underrepresented. This may change as the U.S. Hispanic population increases.  Racial gerrymandering allows for the election of minorities.

© EMC Publishing, LLC The Impact of Diversity  Women and minorities in Congress have brought about significant changes in public policy.  Female members force examination of issues such as the treatment of women in the military.  Hispanic candidates tend to have diverse agendas.  African American members exert influence through the Congressional Black Caucus.

© EMC Publishing, LLC Your Turn Having fewer well-educated men and women serve in Congress would be good for America because then Congress would better represent the majority of Americans. True or false? Be ready to explain your answer. a. True b. False