In these troubling times we turn to Congress to answer much of the political uncertainty that is presented to us on our TV screens every night. In order for us to understand what Congress is doing we must first understand the people who represent us in Congress.
             The Congressional profile is extremely interesting. We have 100 Senators and 435 Representatives who come from all aspects of life. The Democratic Party is the majority party in the Senate and holds 50 seats. The Republican party is the minority in the Senate and holds 49 seats. The only other party represented in the Senate is the Independent party1.
             Out of all of the Democrats in the Senate 40 are men and 10 are women. And out of all of the Republicans in the Senate 45 are men and 3 are women2. This disproportionate number of male senators to female senators is amazing considering the number of women in politics.
             The one member of the Independent Party, Senator James Jeffords of Vermont, caucuses with the Democratic Party, thus giving the Democrats the majority in the Senate3.
             Minorities in the senate are also underrepresented. There are three Asian-American senators: Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii). There is one Native American Senator, Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colorado)4. It is interesting to note that the only Asian American senators are from Hawaii. It also interesting to note that, despite the fact that they are the largest minorities in the US, there are no African American or Hispanics senators5.
             Women are also underrepresented in the Senate. There are 13 total senators, 3 Republican and 10 Democrat. The three Republican senators are Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, Olympia Jean Snowe of Maine, and Susan Collins of Maine. The 10 Democratic senators are
             Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, Dianne Feinstein of California, Barbara Boxer of California, Patty Murray of Washington, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Blanche Lincoln of...