Who’s In Congress A Look at Demographics of the 113 th Congress Chapter 13, pp , CT Packet & Handout from CQ

Race & Gender Number has Increased slowly since Can you point to a factor as to why? Study your homework sheet. What do you notice about party politics of minorities in general? Why do you think minorities increased in the 113 th Congress? Let’s discuss your homework by trends:

Women in Congress

89 th Congress th Congress

Race in Congress: Then & Now Race in Congress Chart

Religious Diversity 56%

Incumbency Define term saw smallest freshman class at 6% &1993 saw the largest in nearly 50 years with 39% & 2013 by comparison had a freshman class of 20%. Check & grade handouts.

Incumbency Is a constitutional amendment needed? Let’s start with the “NO” position  Redistricting in 1990s  Scandals of 1990s  Blue Dog Democrats became Republicans Walter Jones is GREAT example! Now, the “YES” position… More safe than marginal districts now  Define terms

Safe vs. Marginal NC US District 3 is a great example of safe district

Why so many safe districts? Name Recognition  Publicity in media  Famous fathers Franking Privilege  Define Free Travel Gerrymandered districts Pork Barrel Legislation  Discuss earmark projects

Party Comparisons Democrats have controlled Congress more often since 1933:  27 times controlled BOTH houses (2009/111 th most recent)  32 times controlled ONE house (2013/113 th still control Senate)  Discuss current Congress with sheet.

Why is Congress Democrat Dominated? Gerrymandering  Debate how NC changed in Has NC shifted to Republican control?  Yes-NCGA Republican takeover 2011  Yes-Currituck Co. Republican takeover  Maybe-NC was Blue in ’08/Red in ‘12  Maybe-NC executive branch has Democrats in elected offices-Gov. is Rep.

Party Problems Democrats are more ideologically divided, but Tea Party has fractured Republicans Many Southern Democrats have switched to Republican Party  WBJ, Jr. is example: WBJ, Sr. was Democrat Both Parties seem to be moving to the ideological extreme  What is the cause of the extremism?  How have budget fights highlighted this?

How has Congress changed in the past 50 years? Interview with Senator Dorgan Is Congress broken? What commonalities exist in the 2 videos?  What can be done to “fix” Congress?  Are there any benefits to the current state of Congress?