Membership of the 108th Congress: A Profile (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised Oct. 25, 2004 |
| Report Number |
RS21379 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Mildred I. Amer, Government and Finance Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
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Summary:
This report presents a profile of the membership of the 108th Congress. Included is information on numbers of Members, party affiliation, average age and length of service, occupations, religious affiliation, military service, female and minority Members, and foreign-born Members. Currently, in the House, there are 228 Republicans, 210 Democrats (including five Delegates), one Independent, who is aligned with the Democrats, and one vacancy. The Senate has 51 Republicans, 48 Democrats, and one Independent, who is aligned with the Democrats. The average age of Representatives at the beginning of the 108th Congress was 53.9 years; of Senators, 59.5 years; and of both houses, 54.9. An overwhelming majority of Members have a college education. The dominant profession of Members continues to be law, followed by business. Protestants collectively constitute the majority religious affiliation of Members. Roman Catholics account for the largest single religious denomination, and numerous other affiliations are represented. At the beginning of the 108th Congress, the average length of service in the House was about 9 years (4.6 terms); in the Senate, 11.3 years or almost 2 terms. This report will be revised at the commencement of the 109th Congress unless significant changes occur in the 108th Congress.
