The Structure of Congress

Question 1

What is Bicameral?

Answer 1

Made up of two houses

Question 2

How many house members?

Answer 2

435

Question 3

How does each state gain representation in the house?

Answer 3

Proportionally to the population size of their state

Question 4

Compare the state representation in the house of Wyoming and California

Answer 4

Wyoming 1 California 53

Question 5

How long are house terms?

Answer 5

2 year terms

Question 6

House members must be older than what?

Answer 6

25

Question 7

How long must house members have been US citizens?

Answer 7

7 years

Question 8

What does the residency clause dictate?

Answer 8

that you must be a resident in the state in which your district is situated

Question 9

In the House in 2013 (113th Congress) how many women were there and what percentage of the membership was this?

Answer 9

78 18%

Question 10

In the House in 2013 (113th Congress) how many African Americans were there and what percentage of the membership was this?

Answer 10

41 9% of the membership

Question 11

In the House in 2013 (113th Congress) how many Hispanics were there?

Answer 11

31

Question 12

In the House in 2013 (113th Congress) how many ex-Senators were there?

Answer 12

None

Question 13

Why is it good that 9% of the House is African American?

Answer 13

Because that’s only a tiny bit lower than their national average of 10% of the population

Question 14

When did diversity increase in the house?

Answer 14

Following the 1992 elections

Question 15

Why is it useful to know diversity figures for the house and senate?

Answer 15

Because they can be used to illustrate the second version of representation, that of representing what america looks like

Question 16

How do the states send members to the Senate?

Answer 16

Two from each state regardless of population size

Question 17

How long are senatorial terms and what does this mean for the two year elections?

Answer 17

6 year terms, so every two years a third of them go up for re-eleciton

Question 18

How old must senators be?

Answer 18

more than 30

Question 19

How long must senators have been a US citizen?

Answer 19

9 years

Question 20

How does the residency clause apply to the Senate?

Answer 20

You must be a resident of the state that you represent

Question 21

In the Senate in 2013 (113th Congress) how many African Americans were there?

Answer 21

1

Question 22

In the Senate in 2013 (113th Congress) how many Women were there?

Answer 22

20

Question 23

In the Senate in 2013 (113th Congress) how many Hispanics were there?

Answer 23

3

Question 24

In the Senate in 2013 (113th Congress) how many ex-House members were there?

Answer 24

52 (over half)

Question 25

The fact that over half of the Senate are ex-House members demonstrates what?

Answer 25

The prestige of the Senate

Question 26

Describe the recent history of African Americans in the Senate

Answer 26

Following the defeat of Coral Mosley Braun in Illinois in 1998, there were no AA Senators until Obama came in 2004