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Demographics of the 1 13 th Congress

Demographics of the 1 13 th Congress. HOUSE 233 Republicans 200 Democrats 2 Vacancies 81 women (61 D, 20 R) 42 African-American 11 Asian-American 29 Hispanic 2 American Indian. SENATE 53 Democrats 45 Republicans 2 Independents 20 women (16 D, 4 R) 1 African-American 3 Hispanic

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Demographics of the 1 13 th Congress

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  1. Demographics of the 113th Congress • HOUSE • 233 Republicans • 200 Democrats • 2 Vacancies • 81 women (61 D, 20 R) • 42 African-American • 11 Asian-American • 29 Hispanic • 2 American Indian • SENATE • 53 Democrats • 45 Republicans • 2 Independents • 20 women (16 D, 4 R) • 1 African-American • 3 Hispanic • 7 gay/lesbian/ bisexual in both houses

  2. Demographics of the 113th Congress • HOUSE • 246 Protestant • 134 Catholic • 22 Jewish • 8 Unspecified • 5 Orthodox Christian • 2 Buddhist • 2 Moslem • 1 Unitarian Universalist • 1 Hindu • 1 Unspecified • SENATE • 53 Protestant • 27 Catholic • 10 Jewish • 7 Mormon • 2 Unspecified • 1 Buddhist

  3. Does Congress “represent” america? Average age of Sens.: 62.2 Average age of Reps.: 56.7 Median age in the US: 37.2

  4. Does Congress “represent” america? • Total membership: 541 • 209 businesspeople • 200 lawyers • 81 educators • 17 physicians • 17 farmers • 9 military personnel (Reserves/National Guard) • 7 accountants • 7 social workers • 5 ministers • 4 radio talk show hosts

  5. Does Congress “represent” america? • 99% of Senators and 92% of House members are college graduates • 222 members have law degrees • 27 members have no education beyond high school • 24 members have medical degrees • US: 41.1% have no education beyond high school • US: 45.6% have some college education • US: 10.5% have advanced degrees

  6. Does Congress “represent” america? • Women: • 16.8% of members of Congress • 51% of US population • African-Americans: • 8.1% of members of Congress • 12.6% of US population • Hispanic: • 5.7% of members of Congress • 16.3% of US population

  7. Does Congress “represent” america? • Median US household income, 2010: $49,445 Salary of a member of Congress: $174,000 Members of Congress who are millionaires: 47% Members of Congress who have been on welfare: 2

  8. REPRESENTATION • Descriptive representation: Someone who looks like you • Substantive representation: Someone who shares your policy views

  9. INCUMBENCY ADVANTAGE • Name recognition • Mayhew: Credit-claiming, “advertising” oneself • Fundraising advantage • http://www.opensecrets.org/overview/incumbs.php • Federal spending (pork barrel) • Franking (free mailing) • Constituency service/casework • Fiorina: They deliberately make programs complicated so constituents need help with them

  10. Committees • http://www.house.gov/committees/ • http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/committees/d_three_sections_with_teasers/committees_home.htm

  11. Why join a committee? • Personal interest • Constituency needs • Policy expertise • Fundraising advantage • Richard Fenno: Influence, re-election, policy

  12. LEGISLATIVE PROCESSHouse of Representatives • Submission and referral • Committee action • Subcommittee referral • Hearing, markup, vote • Full committee hearing, markup, vote • House Rules Committee • Sets terms of debate • Action by full House

  13. LEGISLATIVE PROCESSSenate • Submission and referral • Committee action • Subcommittee referral • Hearing, markup, vote • Full committee hearing, markup, vote • Majority Leader • Filibuster, cloture (60 Senators) • Other ways to delay • Debate in full Senate, vote

  14. LEGISLATIVE PROCESS • Conference Committee • Vote by House and Senate • Sent to President • Veto override

  15. Decision-making • Delegate • Trustee • Politico

  16. Authorization and Appropriations • Authorization: A bill which gives a program the legal authority to operate • Appropriations: A bill which actually spends the money for the program to operate (14 appropriations bills are supposed to be passed each year)

  17. Reapportionment Redistributing the number of seats in the House following each Census , to reflect changes in population Redistricting: Redrawing the district lines within each state so that each district is equal in population Gerrymandering: Redistricting in a particular way to benefit a specific party or group Majority-minority districting: Drawing a district in which a majority of citizens or voters are members of a racial minority

  18. 2010 reapportionment

  19. Majority-Minority Districting North Carolina’s 12thCongressional District, 1992-1998

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