The USA

Starter Task Match the correct % to the correct grouping to show the ethnic make-up of the US population. White 13.3% African American Hispanic 1.3% 5.9% Asian/Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (API) https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045216 17.8% Native American 61.3%

Representation at Federal Level

Today we will… Identify what ethnic groups in the USA make most political progress. Examine the gender and ethnic make up of the US Government and explain why some groups are underrepresented in the US Government. Assess the extent to which political progress has been made by different groups in US politics.

Success Criteria I can identify what ethnic groups in the USA make most political progress. I can examine the gender and ethnic make up of the US Government and explain why some groups are underrepresented in the US Government. I can assess the extent to which political progress has been made by different groups in US politics.

Copy the 2016 table into your jotter. TASK - Fact file – Presidents by race/ethnic group and gender to 2016/ ethnic/ gender make up of congress 2012/2014/2016/ 2018 In the post on the blog you are going to see a fact file on the number of American Presidents that there have been and the number of minority groups in the US Congress 2012, after the mid terms in 2014 , the 2016 election and the 2018 mid terms. Copy the 2016 table into your jotter. When it comes to the 2018 mid terms- look at the data given and make a table containing this information, you will need to work out the percentages too- native Americans- 4 in HoR.

2016 US Government Facts: US Presidents White 44 Hispanic Black 1 Asian Native American Men 45 Women

Minorities in Congress 2014 (After the mid terms) House of (435) Representatives Senate (100) Total Hispanic 33 (7.5%) 4 (4%) 37 (6.9%) Black 43 (9.8%) 2 (2%) 45 (8.4%) Asian 12 (2.7%) 1 (1%) 13 (2.4%) Native American 0 (0%) Women 83 (19%) 20 (20%) 103 (19.2%) Men 352 (80.9%) 80 (80%) 432 (80.7%)

Minorities in Congress Currently (following 2016 election) House of (435) Representatives Senate (100) Total Hispanic 35 (7.5%) 4 (4%) 39 (7.3%) Black 46 (9.8%) 50 (9.3%) Asian 12 (2.7%) 3 (3%) 15 (2.8%) Native American 2 (0.5%) 0 (0%) 2 (0.4%) Women 84 (19.3%) 21 (21%) 105 (19.6%) Men 351 (80.7%) 79 (79%) 430 (80.4%)

REPRESENTATION In the USA, Blacks and Hispanics have never been properly represented in Congress in proportion to their numbers in population. However, the situation has started to improve.

Task On the next few slides there is information regarding the representation of different ethnic groups in the US Congress. For each slide, make up a spider diagram containing information from the slides.

African-Americans in Congress Collectively called the Black Caucus Very influential Special interests as a group – look out for rights of African Americans Currently all Democrats Examples - Karen Bass, Bobby L Rush, Marcia L. Fudge  

African-Americans in Congress Despite the strength of the Black Caucus, Blacks are still under-represented in Congress. African-Americans are 13% of the population House has 49 members/Senate has 3 members There has been one African American President – Barack Obama https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XnovxQyNH0

Hispanics in Congress Hispanics make up 17% of the population Hispanics are still under-represented in Congress with 34 Congressmen (7.5%) and only 4 Senators (4%). Examples – Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Juan Vargas Hispanics are participating much more in politics than in previous years

Asians in Congress Asians make up 5.9% of the population Asians are still under-represented in Congress with 15 Congressmen serving in the house and only 3 in the senate. Examples – Judy Chu, Grace Meng, Mark Takano Asians are participating much more in politics than in previous years

Native Americans in Congress There are currently only 4 Native American Congressmen and NO Native American SENATORS. Deb Haaland – Laguna Pueblo- New Mexico’s 1st district Sharice Davids- Ho-Chunk- New Mexico Tom Cole- Chickasaw- Oklahoma Markwayne Mullin- Cherokee nation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVITtzHtEng

Political Progress? Although the number of ethnics in the US Government has increased over the years, there is not equality in participation in relation to the population e.g. Blacks make up 13% of the US population yet only 9.3% of Congress. Hispanics make up 17% of the US population but only 7% of Congress. Asians make up 5.9% of the US population and 2.8% of the Congress.

Take the heading: Political Progress of Ethnic Minorities ETHNIC MINORITIES IN THE USA HAVE MADE POLITICAL PROGRESS ETHNIC MINORITIES IN THE USA HAVE NOT MADE MUCH POLITICAL PROGRESS Copy and complete the table by putting the following information into the correct column of the table.

Many ethnic minorities cannot vote because they cannot fill in the complicated registration forms. Many Hispanics cannot register to vote or stand as candidates because they are illegal immigrants. The growing African American middle class participate in voting and show great support for the Democratic party. Asian Americans believe participation through voting has helped many of them achieve the American Dream. Many ethnic minorities now see voting as a waste of time as participation has not helped them get out of the poverty trap. More role models- Barack Obama was elected in 2008. Number of African Americans elected to Congress is on the increase. Hispanics do not have as many role models in important political positions as Blacks do – e.g.. Obama. As Blacks and Hispanics are under-represented in the richest group of Americans, they may find it very difficult to get the financial backing required to run a national election campaign.

Why are minorities under-represented? Traditionally, ethnic minorities were less likely to join political parties or stand for election. Partly, this was due to discrimination and prejudice: white voters were reluctant to vote for minority candidates and political parties were reluctant to put forward candidates in areas with a large majority of white voters.

Why are minorities under-represented? Candidates in US elections also have to raise enormous sums of money to fight elections. Ethnic minorities are more likely to live in poverty, meaning that they have more important priorities – such as finding a job – than thinking about becoming involved in politics, let alone set about trying to raise funds for an election campaign.

Why are minorities under-represented? Lack of role models have also been seen in the past as an obstacle to progress – with few significant role models to look up to for inspiration, many minority voters felt the system was white, middle class and middle aged and would deliver nothing for them. Many simply felt their vote would make no difference. There has only ever been 1 black President – Barack Obama.

Why are minorities under-represented? Language barrier/poorer education than white majority. Many citizens from ethnic minority backgrounds find it difficult to participate as English is not their first language; the voter registration process is notoriously difficult in the USA. Furthermore, linking to the fact that ethnic minority citizens are more likely to be poor, they are also more likely to have a poorer educational background than many white people, again making registering and voting difficult.

Trump’s Angry America Watch “Trump’s Angry America” and take notes on the issues that exist for: White Americans Ethnic Minority Americans The problems that exist between White and Ethnic Minority Americans. https://vimeo.com/175317448 Trump's Angry America

Women in US Politics Janet A. Napolitano, Kathleen Sebelius, Sally Jewell

Women in US Politics The Nineteenth Amendment to the American Constitution was passed in 1920. The amendment prohibited the denial of voting rights based upon an individual’s gender - women in the United States could now vote on the same basis as men. However, by 1979 women made up less than five per cent of the seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, and only about ten per cent of state legislative offices in the USA. A recent report from the Congressional Research Service has found that despite the fact that women make up over 50% of the population of the United States, their presence in congress has never been over 18%. The table on the next slide shows that, in fact, women are under represented in every area of government in the USA.

Women in US Politics Office % Women Senators 17.0 Members of the House of Representatives 16.8 State Governors 12.0 State-wide Elected Officials 22.4 State Legislators 23.6 Mayors of the 100 Largest Cities 8.0 Source: Women & Politics Institute, American University; and Center for American Women and Politics, Rutgers University.

Worldwide Rankings of Women in National Parliaments Rank Country Percent Women % 1 Rwanda 56.3 2 Andorra 53.6 3 Sweden 45.0 20 Nepal 33.2 91 USA 16.9 International Average 19.3 Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union “Women in National Parliaments,” August 2011.

Task With your shoulder partner, write down 3 important points/ issues from the 2 tables. What do the statistics show you?

Progress for Women Not everything is negative. There has been some progress for women. In recent years, women have reached high office in the USA: Condoleezza Rice was President George W. Bush’s Secretary of State– one of the highest offices in the country and the person responsible for leading US foreign policy. Nancy Pelosi is the leader of the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives

Progress for Women Hillary Clinton ran for the Democratic candidacy for the Presidency in 2008 and was only narrowly defeated by Barack Obama. After Obama was elected she was appointed US Secretary of State, serving in office from 2009-2013. She was the Democratic candidate in 2016. Sarah Palin was the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 election and a leading figure in the ‘Tea Party’ movement, which advocates low taxes and strict interpretations of the constitution.

Women in Federal Politics The 113th Congress (2013-2015) saw 20 women elected as Senators and 81 as members of the House of Representatives, the most ever in U.S. history…until the most recent Congress (Check back to your tables!) These women include Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts), Tammy Baldwin (Wisconsin), and Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), who are all the first female Senators from their states. Baldwin is the first openly gay Senator, and Hirono is the first Asian-American woman in the Senate.

Women in the House of Representatives Congress (2001-2003) 108th (2003-2005) 109th (2005-2007) 110th (2007-2009 111th (2009-2011) 112th (2011-2013) 113th (2013-2015) 114th (2015- 2017) Men 373 372 364 361 359 357 354 355 Women 62 63 71 74 76 81 83 Total 435 438

Women in the Senate 87 86 84 83 80 13 14 16 17 20 100 Total Men Women Congress (2001-2003) 108th (2003-2005) 109th (2005-2007) 110th (2007-2009 111th (2009-2011) 112th (2011-2013) 113th (2013-2015) 114th (2015-2017) Men 87 86 84 83 80 Women 13 14 16 17 20 Total 100

Task Using the tables that you have just copied down, describe the progress of women in the House of Representatives and in the Senate. Your answer should include evidence that explains the progress of women since 2001 and also explains how much more progress they may still have to make.

Why are women under-represented? Women are not unelectable and many are popular candidates and held in high regard in opinion polls. Hillary Clinton had the highest ratings of any member of the first Obama Administration of 2008-2012. She also received more actual votes in the 2016 Presidential election than Donald Trump, the winner.

Why are women under-represented? When it came to elected office, however, the picture was different. 84 per cent of the members of the 112th Congress (2011-2013) were men. So why are women so under-represented? Women simply do not run for office. Many women are reluctant to stand for election and do not put themselves forward as candidates as they lack the confidence to do so. One other reason may be that women are still responsible for most childcare and household tasks so have little/no time to participate.

Why are women under-represented? 3. Women also tend to view political activities more negatively than men. More than 50% of women see politics as male dominated and believe that the media more negatively treats women. About two-thirds of potential female candidates believe that Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin were subjected to sexist media coverage in the 2008 presidential campaigns e.g. covering their appearance instead of policies. Women are much less likely to be given encouragement to run for office from family members etc. Where women are given encouragement to run for office, 72% consider doing so. Where women do not receive encouragement, 78% say they would not consider running for office.

Why are women under-represented? 5. In many parts of the U.S.A – particularly the Mid West ‘Bible Belt’, there is the assumption that a woman should be a wife, mother and homemaker rather than being politically active and working for a living. Most single parents are women, trying to combine family life with a political career can be too difficult to achieve. Women are ‘poorer’ than men – average earnings are less (despite being better educated!). Running a political campaign to get elected costs money – richer people (more likely to be men) are better able to afford to try and become elected.

Question: Many groups are under-represented in politics. Describe, in detail, two reasons why one of the following groups are under-represented in politics in a world power you have studied. Women Ethnic Minorities (6 Marks)

Explain the point (This is the case because….) Remember to PEE When answering the question you must PEE Make the Point (Women are under-represented because….) Explain the point (This is the case because….) Provide relevant Examples (An example of this is…..)

Was I successful? I can describe the 3 branches of government in the USA. I can describe the 3 levels of government in the USA and explain the powers that each level has. I can identify what ethnic groups in the USA make most political progress. I can examine the gender and ethnic make up of the US Government and explain why some groups are underrepresented in the US Government. I can assess the extent to which political progress has been made by different groups in US politics.

The US Government and Representation