Members of Congress Beliefs and interests of members

of Congress can affect policy◦Gender◦Race◦Incumbency ◦Party

The 111th Congress541 Elected Officials from 50 states,

five territories, and Washington, D.C.◦House: 435 members, 6 non-voting

delegates 255 Democrats 178 Republicans 2 vacant seats

◦Senate: 100 members 56 Democrats 41 Republicans 2 Independents 1 vacant seat

The 111th CongressGender

◦17 female Senators, 75 female RepresentativesEthnicity

◦Senate 1 African-American 3 Hispanics 2 Asian Americans

◦House 42 African-Americans 27 Hispanics 5 Asian Americans 1 Native American 3 gay members

The 111th CongressReligion

◦Top Five Denominations Roman Catholic 29.3% Baptist 11.1% Methodist 10.2% Jewish 7.8% Presbyterian 7.6%

◦Most religiously diverse House in history 2 Muslims 2 Buddhists 31 Jews 11 Mormons 1 Quaker 1 Atheist

The 111th CongressForeign-born

◦1 foreign-born Senator (Cuba) 2 Senators born overseas to U.S. parents

(Panama Canal Zone and India) ◦7 Representatives born overseas

The 111th Congress Occupations

◦215 members have worked in the law◦109 members have served as political aides◦153 members have served in the military◦96 members have worked as educators◦12 members are doctors◦18 members have MBAs◦15 members are former law enforcement agents◦9 members are scientists◦6 members are ordained ministers◦5 members are CPAs◦1 river boat captain◦1 mortician

Do Members Represent Their Voters? Member behavior not always obviousThree theories of member behavior

◦Representational View: members vote to please their constituents in order to secure reelection

◦Organizational View: when constituency interests are not at stake, members respond to cues from colleagues

◦Attitudinal View: member’s ideology determines his/her vote