U.S. Congress - Research Paper Example

istics, which would range from data on party affiliation, the average age of the members, occupation, education levels, length of congressional service. Other characteristics include; their religious affiliation, gender, ethnicity, foreign births as well as military service (Brownworth). In the congress as at February 2013, the House of Representatives had a maximum of 232 republicans and 206 democrats plus 5 delegates and the resident commissioner. The senate on the other hand had 45 republicans against 53 democrats.

There were also 2 independent who caucus with the democrats. At the beginning of the 113th tenure, the average age of the members of the congress was found to be 57.0 years while that of senators was 62.0 years. A majority of the members of the congress have attained at least a college education. The members dominantly possess professions ranging from public service/politics, business and law. The religion affiliation of most of the members is either Christians or Protestants with the largest single religious denomination being Catholics; 31% of the Members (136 in the House, 27 in the Senate) are Catholic.

The length of service averagely of the representatives is averagely worked out to be 9.1 years, which is 4.6 terms; the senators’ term is 10.2 years, which is 1.7 terms. The one hundred and thirteenth house has a record number of women that stands at one hundred; 18.5% of total membership. 80 of this number are found in the House a number that includes 3 delegates while 20 of these women are found in the senate (Brownworth). In terms of ethnicity, we have 43 African American members of the house while 2 are found in the senate.

It is worth noting that this number includes two delegates. The same house has 38 Hispanic serving in the congress of which 34 are in the house including 1 delegate and the resident commissioner while 4 are there in the senate. 13 members of the house in the order of 10 who are the representatives, 2 delegates and 1