Minority Representation

Some groups are under-represented

• 54% of Americans are female – but only 17% of Congress

• 8% of congress is Black

• 5% are Hispanic

• Average age for a Senator is 62

Progress

• More women in Congress than ever

• Large rise in minority representation since early 1990s, especially Black

• Democrat Party have come closer to fair representation of minority groups

• First non-white President

Still some way to go

• Women and ethnic minorities still under represented

• Gains made in 1990s have levelled off

• NO Blacks Republicans at all in Congress or the White House

Why are minorities under-represented?

• Economic reasons – it costs millions of $ to run for office

• Social reasons – helps to have gone to a good University (e.g. Harvard) or have family connections to people in power (e.g. George W. Bush): fewer minorities have these chances

• Political reasons – lack of role models to inspire people from minority groups, political apathy

• Discrimination – a lot of voters will only vote for someone from their own ethnic group, so even if Blacks or Hispanics run for office, racism holds them back

Voter turnout by ethnic group (%)

1996 2000 2004 2008African

American50.6 54.1 56.3 65.2

API 25.7 25.4 29.8 49.9Hispanics 26.7 27.5 28.0 47.0Whites 56.0 60.4 60.3 66.1

•In 2008 a higher percentage of young Blacks voted than young whites and black women voted more than any other racial or gender group