DEMOGRAPHICS OFCONGRESS

Is the average Congressperson

similar to the average

person they represent?

House of Representatives

Congress (113th) (114th)

Republicans 234 246

Democrats 201 189

114th House of Reps

SenateCongress

(113th) (114th)

Republicans 45 54

Democrats 53 44

Independent 2 2

114th Senate

INDEPENDENT

DEM

REP

1 EACH

Ethnicity

U.S. House U.S. Senate

White 355 (82%) 94

Black 44 (10%) 1

Hispanic 28 (6%) 2

Asian 7 (2%) 3

American Indian 1 0

RELIGION

Women in Congress

House (82) Senate (20)

Democrats Republicans Democrats Republicans

61 (32%) 21 (9%) 14 (30%) 6 (11%)

EDUCATION

Occupations

• Congress tends to have a few major occupational backgrounds:– Business– Lawyers– Public service/politics– Education

AGE

SENATE HOUSEDiane Feinstein (D CA) 81 John Conyers (D MI)

85

Tom Cotton (R AR) 37 Elise Stefanik (R NY) 30

AVERAGE

61 YEARS 57 YEARS

10.2 YEARS SERVED 9.1 YEARS SERVED

• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/07/most-diverse-congress_n_6430840.html

Congress’s Wealth

http://www.moneychoice.org/rich-congress/

Is the average Congressperson

similar to the average

person they represent?

Is this good or bad?

Pay for Congressmen

• $174,000 per year– Leadership position earn up to $233,000

• Retirement • Health Care• Franking privilege• Travel stipend• ETC.

Idaho’s Current LegislatorsRaul Labrador (R) District 1

Elected in 2010

Mike Simpson (R) District 2Elected in 1998

Mike Crapo (R) SenatorElected in 1998

Jim Risch (R) Senator

Elected in 2008

Chapter 11 Section 3

1. What is the role of the Legislative and Executive Branches in foreign affairs?

2. Who has power to declare war?

3. What “other” powers does Congress have?

4. The Constitution specifically mentions what 4 types of federal crimes?

5. Which branch has power to create and organize federal courts?