What This Document Is
This document is a “Bell Ringer” assignment for PS 1005, American Government and Politics at Middle Tennessee State University, focused on analyzing the composition of the 118th Congress. It combines data from the Pew Research Center, Roll Call, and The Hill to prompt critical thinking about representation in the U.S. government. The assignment includes questions designed to be answered using the provided resources.
Why This Document Matters
This assignment is intended for students enrolled in PS 1005. It’s likely used at the beginning of a class period to activate prior knowledge and introduce key concepts related to congressional demographics, representation, and the potential impact of those demographics on policy. It exists to encourage students to engage with current data and consider the complexities of American political representation.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This document provides a starting point for analysis but does not offer comprehensive explanations of the historical or systemic factors influencing congressional representation. It requires students to independently synthesize information from multiple sources and formulate their own arguments. It does not provide definitive answers, but rather encourages exploration and critical thought.
What This Document Provides
The full document includes: a chart detailing the composition of the 118th Congress (January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025), links to external resources from Pew Research Center, Roll Call, and The Hill, data on term lengths and age requirements for congressional positions, and five short-answer questions prompting analysis of gender and racial representation in Congress. This preview does *not* include the answers to the questions, nor does it contain a full summary of the linked articles. It also does not include the full data visualizations from Roll Call and The Hill.
