Representation of Minorities Representation of Women, Blacks, Hispanics and Asian and Pacific Islanders in Government

Generally speaking, women and ethnic minorites are not well represented in American politics. This means they do not have a proportionate number of members in Congress (in the Senate or the House of Representatives) in relation to their population. Remember – the Senate has 100 members (2 for each State) and the HoR’s has 435.

Women Women make up 54% of the population of America and if women were represented in proportion to their population size there would be 54 senators and 235 females in the House of Representatives. But in the 112th US Congress there are only 17 (/100) Senators and 74 (/435) Representatives. Women are therefore extremely UNDER represented! Why ? They don’t put themselves forward as candidates – role of women in many parts of America– wife, mother, home-maker. The political system is biased in favour of those already in office, and most of those in office are men.

Examples of successful women Hilary Clinton – Tried to become the Democrat candidate against Obama to be President. Current Secretary of State. Condoleezza Rice – Was appointed by President Bush as the Secretary of State in his Cabinet. Now a professor of political science at Stanford University. Sarah Palin: Was Republican vice-presidential nominee against Obama in 2008.

Ethnic minorities. Minorities are not proportionately represented in Congress either. They make up a third of the population and if minorities were represented in proportion to their size, there would be 33 (/100) senators and 143 (/435) ethnic minority members in the House of Representative.

Ethnic Minorities in 112th Congress Ethnic Group Senate House of Reps White 96 361 Black 44 Hispanic 2 25 API 8 Natives 1

Why under-representation for ethnic minorities? Lack of money – at state and national level candidates spend millions of dollars on campaigns to ensure people vote for them. The income difference between white males and these groups is considerable. Lack of education – ethnic minorities education tends to be restricted at high school level. Discrimination towards minorities that do stand often means failed election. Lack of Role Models – not enough success for ethnics in politics to encourage others. APIs have tended to stay and work in business.

However...we now have the first African American President: Barack Obama! Hilary Clinton and Sarah Palin are both potential presidents in the future. Obama’s election was huge for America and may pave the way for other ethnic minorities in politics.

Government Response to under-rep: The intro of minority-majority districts in the 90s changed district boundaries creating areas with large black and Hispanic voters and increased the likelihood of minority candidates being elected. The Black and Hispanic Caucus (groups) in Congress work for minority equality in society. Rice, Obama, Palin and Clinton all making recent progress in high profile political jobs.

Homework 2008 Int 2 Past Paper “Women and ethnic minorities are poorly represented in the US political system.” (6/8 marks) Explain, in detail, why women and ethnic minorities are poorly represented in the US political system.