Rich Congress

Wealth of Congress Members

Center for Responsive Politics

Critical Analysis

1. Based on the data from the chart above, what was the wealth of the median member of the U.S. Senate in 2018?

2. What story does the chart tell about the wealth of Congress?

3. How much wealthier is the average U.S. Senator than the average U.S. House member and why do you think that is?

4. Do you think the wealth of congress has an impact on the kind of laws they pass?

5. How does the wealth of congress compare to the wealth of average Americans?*

6. If the average wealth of congress were the same as the average American, how would that change the kids of laws the Congress passed?

7. How does the wealth of Republicans compare to the wealth of Democrats in Congress?*

8. Based on the data in the chart, would it be fair to call the United States a plutocracy?

9. Does the data in the chart make you think the U.S. is more of a participatory democracy or an elite democracy?

10. What would the Framers have thought about the wealth gap between Congress and the average American?

Visual Extension

Learning Extension

Read the Open Secrets article: The wealth of the average Congressperson = the wealth of 18 average Americans or just check out the video below!

Action Extension

Print out the chart. Get some markers. In one color, trace the line of the wealth of the average member of congress. In another color, draw a line on the chart to predict the wealth of the average American. In a third color, draw a line of the actual wealth of the average American. Post your chart on the wall or on social media.