1. Congressional Elections Reapportionment Redistricting Gerrymandering

2. How representative is Congress?

3. Women in Congress- Today there are 20 in Senate (20%) -16 D and 4 R Today there are 79 in House (18%)

4. How representative is Congress???

5. African Americans: 140 in Congress since 1870. Currently serving = 45. –Make up 14% of US population, –Today 2 in senate (2%), 43 (about 10%) in House. Latinos: 30 serving in Congress today. –Make up 17% of population. –3 in Senate (3%), 28 in House (6.4%) –MAJORITY MINORITY DISTRICTS

6. House and Senate elections Incumbency advantage: where does it come from? -decline of parties -constituency service a. district service b. constituent assistance - incumbent resources (staff, frank, webpges, campaign funds)

7. Senate versus House elections More even competition in Senate races More moedia coverage for Senate elections Better quality challenger in Senate

8. National forces Definition: Electoral effects felt across entire nation in a given election

9. Congress: how is it organized? Parties: Majority party House: Speaker, Majority Leader and Minority Leader Whips Senate: Majority Leader

10. Procedures Rules: play bigger role in House (Senate is more informal) Filibuster Standing Committees (19 in House, 17 in Senate) Select Committees, Joint Committees, Conference Committees Committee Chairs