Essay Minorities in Congress - 4213 Words

Minorities in Congress In forming a government for the people, by the people, and of the people, our Founding Fathers developed the idea a bi-cameral legislature. This Congress, composed of the House of Representatives and Senate, thus became known as the people’s branch of government. American children are taught in schools that anyone can be elected to Congress, so long as they meet the qualifications of the Constitution. So long as you meet the age and residency requirements you are indeed qualified to be a candidate for Congress. If we take a more in-depth look at the composition of Congress we see a body disproportionate with its Nation. Congress has maintained a fairly homogenous make-up since its founding even into the†¦show more content†¦The 2000 elections introduced the 107th Congress. While the body has diversified, the U.S. Congress remains a largely white male institution. Currently, there are no black or Hispanic senators. Nine percent of House members are black and four perce nt are Hispanic. For comparison, Blacks comprise thirteen percent of the U.S. population and Hispanics twelve percent. Women historically fare better, particularly in the Senate where they now hold thirteen seats, the most seats in history. The 435-member House has 59 women members, up slightly from the 56 of the 106th Congress. These numbers translate to approximately a fourteen percent membership for women in the House of Representatives. While women have gained seats in Congress, this thirteen/fourteen percent composition is lacking considering women make up about half the population. As society becomes more â€Å"minority-aware† a focus has turned on a sections of the population previously hidden or unheard. Three House members are openly gay, and two lawmakers, Senator Max Cleland, and freshman Representative Jim Langevin, both democrats, use wheelchairs. These numbers indicate today’s Congressional members are overwhelmingly able-bodied and heterosexual. The Sena te is prone to even less diversity with 2001 seeing no change in its minority composition. The Senates fair-skinned minority population stayed at three: Hawaiis Daniel Akaka, a native Hawaiian; Daniel Inouye, an American of JapaneseShow MoreRelatedThe Civil Rights Activist Malcolm X1631 Words   |  7 PagesJohn F. Kennedy, and he was the one that originally proposed the law to congress (Krogstand). Congress at the time was not in agreeance with the law whatsoever, but an event pushed them to pass the law. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, which sent a shock through the U.S.A. This pushed congress to pass the law, largely because of the public feeling sympathetic, and in reflection of the sympathy they pushed congress to pass a law in their reflection of feeling for John F. 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