Church in State 2021
Critical Analysis
Buddhists make up 1% of the US population. What % of congress members are Buddhist?
What religious group is most over represented in the current U.S. Congress?
What story does the data tell about religion and Congressional representation?
Why do you think that is?
Describe how this impacts U.S. policy.
How do you think this data has most changed over the past 20 years?*
How different do you think this chart will be in 20 years?
What would this chart have looked like in 1790?
In your opinion, is the increasing Religious diversity of Congress positive or negative?
Claim: Christianity is more over represented in the house than in the Senate. Using the data from the chart below*, Explain whether the claim is true.
What explains the religious differences between the House and the Senate?
How religiously different are the Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Congress?
What explains that difference?
The First Amendment guarantees freedom from religion and freedom of religion. How do you think the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment impact the US Congress?
Learning Extension
Read the Pew Report on the religious makeup of the 117th Congress.
Action Extension
Contact your U.S. Representative or Senator and ask them to explain how religion impacts their work. Share their response in class or online.
