1. Congressional Elections
Reapportionment
Redistricting
Gerrymandering

2. How representative is Congress?

3. Women in Congress-
Today there are 21 in Senate (20%) Today there are 84 in House (19%)
Less than many other countries

5. African Americans: 145 in Congress since 1870. Currently serving = 49.
Make up 12% of US population,
Today 1 in senate (1%), 48 (about 11%) in House.
Latinos: 38 serving in Congress today.
Make up 16% of population.
4 in Senate (4%), 34 in House (about 8%)
Asians: about 5% of US population, 12 House (about 3%) and 3 in Senate (3%)

6. Other groups
LGBT – 7 total: 6 House, 1 Senate (Gallup poll – 4 % of population – would be 17 total)
Religion
39 non-Christians in Congress:
2 Muslims (in House)
28 Jewish members (22 House, 8 Senate – overrepresented)
4 Hindu – all in House
3 Buddhist – 2 House, 1 Senate
Very few atheists

7. MAJORITY MINORITY DISTRICTS
Voting Rights Act Section 2: No procedures can be applied that deny/abridge citizen right to vote on account of race/color
Courts have encouraged states to create M-M districts to comply with Section 2 and prevent “dilution of vote” – promote election of minority Congressmen

8. 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)

9. Senate versus House elections
More even competition in Senate races
More media coverage for Senate elections
Better quality challenger in Senate

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

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

12. Procedures Rules: play bigger role in House (Senate is more informal)
Filibuster