Reference no: EM133456858

When the Founding Fathers put together the first Congress, only white men could become members. This was largely because the founders intended the legislative body to be made up of people like them: an elite group of educated men who owned property. Over time, however, many of the original requirements for congressional membership have faded away, meaning that more people in the United States have become eligible to hold an elective office. The 113th Congress, elected in 2012, was the most diverse Congress in history. Let's take a look at its membership.

Question 1

To understand the diverse nature of the 113th Congress, it is important to understand the basic characteristics of the members. Using the summary page of the August 2013 congressional profile survey, find the average age, party affiliation, gender, and length of service of the voting members in both houses of Congress. Enter this information in the table provided below.