Answer :
To analyze how Congress could better represent the US population, let's review the provided demographic data and identify disparities between the demographics of Congress and the general US population.
1. Age Difference:
- Congress: The average age is 90 or older.
- The United States: The average age is 38.
Solution: Congress should include younger members to better reflect the average age of the general US population.
2. Education:
- Congress: A specified number (unclear in the data) lack a four-year college degree.
- The United States: 325 (presumably million) have a bachelor's degree.
Solution: Comparing educational attainment levels in Congress to the general population might suggest an increase in representatives with varying levels of educational backgrounds could improve representation, but precise numbers are lacking in the data for this analysis.
3. Gender Representation:
- Congress: 245 men and 15 women.
- The United States: The general population includes a balanced gender distribution (not specified in the chart).
Solution: To better reflect the US population, Congress should increase the election of women representatives.
4. Economic Status:
- Congress: A significant portion are millionaires.
- The United States: 85 millionaires out of the entire population.
Solution: Congress could achieve better representation by including members from various economic backgrounds, particularly those not in the top wage bracket.
5. Race and Ethnicity:
- Congress:
- 10% African American,
- 1% Hispanic or Latino,
- 78% White.
- The United States:
- 13% African American,
- 16% Hispanic or Latino,
- 60% White.
Solution: Increasing the election of members who are African American, Hispanic, or Latino to ensure that racial and ethnic representation in Congress is more aligned with that of the general US population.
### Conclusion
Based on the disparities observed:
- Increasing the election of younger members to reflect the average age of the US population.
- Increasing the election of women to achieve a more balanced gender representation.
- Increasing the election of members from various economic backgrounds, especially those not in the highest income brackets.
- Increasing the election of members from racial and ethnic minorities to better reflect the diversity of the US population.
Thus, Congress can better represent the US population by addressing these specific areas.
1. Age Difference:
- Congress: The average age is 90 or older.
- The United States: The average age is 38.
Solution: Congress should include younger members to better reflect the average age of the general US population.
2. Education:
- Congress: A specified number (unclear in the data) lack a four-year college degree.
- The United States: 325 (presumably million) have a bachelor's degree.
Solution: Comparing educational attainment levels in Congress to the general population might suggest an increase in representatives with varying levels of educational backgrounds could improve representation, but precise numbers are lacking in the data for this analysis.
3. Gender Representation:
- Congress: 245 men and 15 women.
- The United States: The general population includes a balanced gender distribution (not specified in the chart).
Solution: To better reflect the US population, Congress should increase the election of women representatives.
4. Economic Status:
- Congress: A significant portion are millionaires.
- The United States: 85 millionaires out of the entire population.
Solution: Congress could achieve better representation by including members from various economic backgrounds, particularly those not in the top wage bracket.
5. Race and Ethnicity:
- Congress:
- 10% African American,
- 1% Hispanic or Latino,
- 78% White.
- The United States:
- 13% African American,
- 16% Hispanic or Latino,
- 60% White.
Solution: Increasing the election of members who are African American, Hispanic, or Latino to ensure that racial and ethnic representation in Congress is more aligned with that of the general US population.
### Conclusion
Based on the disparities observed:
- Increasing the election of younger members to reflect the average age of the US population.
- Increasing the election of women to achieve a more balanced gender representation.
- Increasing the election of members from various economic backgrounds, especially those not in the highest income brackets.
- Increasing the election of members from racial and ethnic minorities to better reflect the diversity of the US population.
Thus, Congress can better represent the US population by addressing these specific areas.
