Which group is most underrepresented in Congress?

Which group is most underrepresented in Congress?

• A. African Americans
• B. Whites
• C. Hispanics
• D. Women

Answer: (D)

The question tests descriptive representation: how closely Congress mirrors the population. Among the groups listed, women are the most underrepresented because they make up about half of the population, yet have historically held only a minority of seats in Congress. While representation of African Americans and Hispanics has grown and often reflects a portion of their populations, the share of women in Congress has lagged far behind their share of the country. As a result, the gap between women’s population share and their congressional representation is larger than for the other groups, making women the most underrepresented.

The question tests descriptive representation: how closely Congress mirrors the population. Among the groups listed, women are the most underrepresented because they make up about half of the population, yet have historically held only a minority of seats in Congress. While representation of African Americans and Hispanics has grown and often reflects a portion of their populations, the share of women in Congress has lagged far behind their share of the country. As a result, the gap between women’s population share and their congressional representation is larger than for the other groups, making women the most underrepresented.