How many Boomers are in the 119th Congress?
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:
According to the data from the visual above, what generation makes up the largest percentage of the Senate?
There are 435 voting members of the House and 100 members of the Senate. On average, which congressional chamber is older?
What most surprised you about the data from the visual above?
The oldest a member of Generation Z can be is 29. What structural barrier in the constitutional age qualifications for Congress accounts for why there is one Generation Z member of the House but no Generation Z members of the Senate.
The median age of voting members of the House of Representatives is now 57.5 years. The Senate’s median age is 64.7 years. What do you think explains this difference?
The median age of all members of Congress is 59. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median age of Americans is 38.1. What explains this difference?
Insider’s special investigation, “Red, White, and Gray” describes the United States as a gerontocracy - government by the old. Describe one political consequence of electing a Congress that is more than 20 years older than the average American citizen.
According to the visual below* incumbents in both chambers are older than first-time (newly elected) members. Make a claim explaining why the average age of a freshman in Congress is lower than that of an incumbent.
Imagine that suddenly in the 2026 midterm election, Americans voted for a new Congress that was 20 years younger on average than the old one. (This is a purely hypothetical an unlikely scenario!) What is one public policy that you think would change if Congress suddenly became dramatically younger?
Recently, I was on a walk. Someone said, “Hey Boomer!” I look around, but they were talking to their golden retriever named “Boomer.” Is it unkind to name a dog, Boomer? Is it worse to name a dog, Gen Z? What is the worst dog name you’ve ever heard?
Write and Discuss
Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.
Act on your Learning
Calculate the year you could first run for the U.S. House or the U.S. Senate and share your information with class. If your GoPo teacher is old enough to run for the U.S. House or the U.S. Senate form an exploratory campaign committee and urge them to run for office!
Pro Tip
Do NOT, under any circumstances say, “Hey Boomer!” to your teacher!
Get Creative
If the 119th Congress were an animal, what animal would it be?
Learning Extension*
Read the Pew Research Center rundown of age in the 119th Congress.