Congressional Elections Reapportionment Redistricting Gerrymandering

How representative is Congress?

Women in Congress- Today there are 21 in Senate (20%) Today there are 84 in House (19%) Less than many other countries

African Americans: 145 in Congress since 1870. Currently serving = 49. Make up 12% of US population, Today 1 in senate (1%), 48 (about 11%) in House. Latinos: 38 serving in Congress today. Make up 16% of population. 4 in Senate (4%), 34 in House (about 8%) Asians: about 5% of US population, 12 House (about 3%) and 3 in Senate (3%)

Other groups LGBT – 7 total: 6 House, 1 Senate (Gallup poll – 4 % of population – would be 17 total) Religion 39 non-Christians in Congress: 2 Muslims (in House) 28 Jewish members (22 House, 8 Senate – overrepresented) 4 Hindu – all in House 3 Buddhist – 2 House, 1 Senate Very few atheists

MAJORITY MINORITY DISTRICTS Voting Rights Act Section 2: No procedures can be applied that deny/abridge citizen right to vote on account of race/color Courts have encouraged states to create M-M districts to comply with Section 2 and prevent “dilution of vote” – promote election of minority Congressmen

House and Senate elections Incumbency advantage: where does it come from? -decline of parties -constituency service a. district service b. constituent assistance - incumbent resources (staff, frank, webpges, campaign funds)

Senate versus House elections More even competition in Senate races More media coverage for Senate elections Better quality challenger in Senate

National forces Definition: Electoral effects felt across entire nation in a given election

Congress: how is it organized? Parties: Majority party House: Speaker, Majority Leader and Minority Leader Whips Senate: Majority Leader

Procedures Rules: play bigger role in House (Senate is more informal) Filibuster