Membership of the 111th Congress: a profile.(Congressional Research Service)(Report)

 Contents  Party Breakdown Age Occupations Education Congressional Service Religion Gender and Ethnicity    Female Members    African American Members    Hispanic Members    Asian Pacific Americans    American Indians Foreign Birth Military Service 

February 4, 2010

Summary

This report presents a profile of the membership of the 111th Congress. Statistical information is included on selected characteristics of Members, including data on party affiliation, average age and length of service, occupation, religious affiliation, gender, ethnicity, foreign births, and military service.

Currently, in the House of Representatives, there are 262 Democrats (including five Delegates and the Resident Commissioner), 178 Republicans, and one vacant seat. The Senate has 57 Democrats; 2 Independents, who caucus with the Democrats; and 41 Republicans.

The average age of Members of both Houses of Congress at the beginning of the 111th Congress was 58.2 years; of Members of the House, 57.2 years; and of Senators, 63.1 years. The overwhelming majority of Members have a college education. The dominant professions of Members are public service/politics, business, and law. Protestants collectively constitute the majority religious affiliation of Members. Roman Catholics account for the largest single religious denomination, and numerous other affiliations are represented.

The average length of service for Representatives at the beginning of the 111th Congress was 11.0 years (5.5 terms); for Senators 12.9 years (2.2 terms).

A record number of 93 women serve in the 111th Congress: 76 in the House, 17 in the Senate. There are 41 African American Members of the House and one in the Senate. This number includes two Delegates. There are 29 Hispanic or Latino Members serving: 28 in the House, including the Resident Commissioner, and one in the Senate. Twelve Members (eight Representatives, two Delegates, and two Senators) are Asian or Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander. The only American Indian (Native American) serves in the House.

Congress is composed of 541 individuals from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. (1) This count assumes that no seat is temporarily vacant. (2) The following is a profile of the 111th Congress. (3)

Party Breakdown

In the 111th Congress, the current party alignments are 262 Democrats in the House of Representatives (including five Delegates and the Resident Commissioner),178 Republicans, and one vacancy. The Senate has 57 Democrats; two Independents, who caucus with the Democrats; and 41 Republicans.

Age

The average age of Members of the 111th Congress is among the highest of any Congress in recent U.S. history. (4) The average age of Senators at the beginning of the 111th Congress was 63.1 years, approximately 1.5 years greater than that of the 110th Congress (61.7 years) and three years older than that of Senators in the 109th Congress (60.1 years).

At the beginning of the 111th Congress, the average age of Members of the House, including …