Critical Analysis

Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, your big brain, the information provided and any links below:

1. House Republicans are working with one of the narrowest margins in U.S. history: a nine-vote (member) edge on Democrats, 222 to 213 (or 2.06 percentage points) – the tightest margin in nine decades. According to the data from the visual above, in the history of the United States, how many times has there been a U.S. House majority with a margin of control of less than 5 percentage points?

2. The closest margin of all occurred in the 65th Congress of 1917-19. After gaining seats in the 1916 elections, Republicans had a 215-213 edge over Democrats when the new House met for the first time on April 2, 1917. According to the data from the visual above, in the past thirty years, how many times has there been a majority with a margin of control of less than 5 percentage points?

3. According to the data from the visual above, in the history of the United States, what was the highest margin of control for the majority party?

4. According to the data from the visual above, in the history of the United States, describe the overall trend in the margin of control for the majority party?

5. Tricky (but not trick) question: what does the data from the visual above tell us about the current majority margin in the U.S. Senate?

6. One advantage the majority party in the House gains is the election of the Speaker (head) of the House. Identify two other advantages the House majority party gains.

7. The 2.3 percentage point edge that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s Republicans held at the start of the current Congress is the fifth-smallest in U.S. history. How do you think this narrow margin will impact the power of the current Speaker (head) of the House.

8. The 117th Congress (2021-2022) had a Democratic majority of just 11 seats. The current 118th Congress (2023-2024) has a Republican majority of just 9 seats. Based on your knowledge of American government and politics explain why the past two Congresses have had such a low margin of majority.

9. Democratic Virginia Rep. Donald McEachin. McEachin passed away just weeks after winning reelection in the 2022 midterm election. On February 22, 2023 Democrat Jennifer McClellan was elected to fill McEachlin’s vacant seat. How likely is it that the Republicans will loose their House majority in the 2024 Presidential election and how does this impact your desire to vote?

10. Some would say that a small margin of majority is a good thing because it will serve as a check against a tyrannical Congress. they might even claim or argue that James Madison would have been pleased as punch (happy) about such a small House majority. How would you respond to that claim?

Visual Extension*

Learning Extension

Read the entire Pew Research Center report/freestyle rap on the current super-slim House majority.

Action Extension

Contact your Congressional representative and ask them hos the narrow House majority margin impacts their ability to do their job. Share their response with your classmates.