The Senate

Membership 100 members

2 from each state

Equal representation for all 50 states

Qualifications at least 30 years

old

citizen of the U.S. for at least 9 years

legal resident of the state they represent

selected statewide (not by district)

Bill Nelson

Marco Rubio

Term of Office Elections held in November of even numbered years

Term begins Jan. 3

6 year term

1/3 are up for re-election every two years

Most get re-elected

Group work- comparing the houses Venn Diagram Make a venn diagram Label one circle House of

Representatives and the other circle Senate

Facts about the current congress

In the House, there are currently 362 men and 76 women.

In the Senate, there are 17 women and 83 men.

Racial Composition of the 112th Congress

House White- 361

Black- 44

Hispanic- 25

Asian -7

American Indian- 1

Senate White- 96

Black- 0

Hispanic- 2

Asian- 2

American Indian-0

Party Affiliations House of

Representatives  192 Democrats 240 Republicans 3 Vacancies

Senate  51 Democrats 47 Republicans 2 Independents

Which house has the most diversity? Why do you think this is? Use facts from the PowerPoint and textbook to support your answer.