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Who’s In Congress

Who’s In Congress. A Look at Demographics of the 113 th Congress Chapter 13, pp. 325-330, CT Packet & Handout from CQ. Race & Gender. Number has Increased slowly since 1992. Can you point to a factor as to why?

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Who’s In Congress

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  1. Who’s In Congress A Look at Demographics of the 113th Congress Chapter 13, pp. 325-330, CT Packet & Handout from CQ

  2. Race & Gender • Number has Increased slowly since 1992. 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 113th Congress? • Let’s discuss your homework by trends:

  3. Women in Congress

  4. 89th Congress1965-66 113th Congress 2013-2014

  5. Race in Congress: Then & Now Race in Congress Chart

  6. Religious Diversity 56%

  7. Incumbency • Define term. • 1989 saw smallest freshman class at 6% &1993 saw the largest in nearly 50 years with 39%. 2011 & 2013 by comparison had a freshman class of 20%. • Check & grade handouts.

  8. 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

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

  10. 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

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

  12. Why is Congress Democrat Dominated? • Gerrymandering • Debate how NC changed in 2011. • 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.

  13. 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?

  14. How has Congress changed in the past 50 years? • Interview with Senator Dorgan http://loufreyinstitute.org/civicsconnection/conversations/1/11 • Is Congress broken? http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50134480n • What commonalities exist in the 2 videos? • What can be done to “fix” Congress? • Are there any benefits to the current state of Congress?

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