Has the U.S. Congress become more religious over the past half century?
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, and your knowledge of American government and politics:
In the 87th Congress (1961-1962) how many of the 535 members of Congress were protestants?
In the current 118th Congress (2023-2024) how many of the 535 members of Congress were protestants?
Since 1961, what has been the fastest growing religious group in the US Congress?
A large majority of current lawmakers in Congress – 469 members – identify as Christian, but that is the lowest total since 2009, when Pew Research Center began analyzing this trend. Describe the most significant trend you see in the chart above.
Still, Christians’ share in Congress is greater than their proportion of the broader American public. Nearly nine-in-ten congressional members (88%) are Christian as of Jan. 3, 2023, compared with 63% of U.S. adults overall. Why do you think Congress is more Christian than America at large?
By contrast, religiously unaffiliated adults’ share on Capitol Hill is far below their share of the overall U.S. population: While 29% of Americans say they are atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular,” just one lawmaker – independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona – identifies as religiously unaffiliated. (Democratic Rep. Jared Huffman of California describes himself as humanist, and 20 lawmakers’ religious affiliations are categorized as unknown. Most of those 20 declined to state a religious affiliation when they were asked by CQ Roll Call, which served as the primary data source for the Center’s analysis.) Why do you think religiously unaffiliated people are underrepresented in Congress?
Based on the visual below*, in what way is the religious makeup of the US Congress most and least reflective of that of the U.S. population?
Explain how the mismatch between religious affiliation in Congress and religious affiliation in the general American population impacts the policy Congress creates.
Based on the changes in this chart over the past half century. What do you think this chart will look like in 20 years?
The First Amendment begins, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" In his first speech from the chamber as speaker, Mike Johnson cast his ascendance to the position second in line to the presidency in religious terms, saying, “I believe God has ordained and allowed each one of us to be brought here for this specific moment.” Speaker Johnson’s beliefs includes opposition not just to same-sex marriage, but to homosexuality itself, which he has written is “inherently unnatural” and a “dangerous lifestyle.” Given the religious makeup of the current US Congress, describe the degree of separation between church and state in America.
Visual Extension
Learning Extension
Check out this great Pew Report: Faith on the Hill, about the 118th Congress and religion.
Action Extension
Contact your US Representative and ask them to tell you how their religion impacts their voting in Congress. Invite them to come and speak to your class! Share your results in class or online.