AO1: Both chambers of Congress lack diversity Statistically Congress lacks diversity on race, gender, sexuality, disability and also the party system AO3: Although this has improved in recent years, it has been a slow process, and has not benefited from affirmative action programmes, meaning Congress is still quite unrepresentative. AO1: Congress is dominated by incumbency This makes it harder for serving members of Congress to be successfully challenged in elections as they have the organisation, resources and political record to campaign with AO3: Therefore Congress is less democratic as its representative function is limited by the dominance of incumbency, meaning Congress is still quite unrepresentative. AO1: Congress is often gridlocked within and between the chambers because of the tendency to focus on local issues This means that Congress does not always focus on the national picture when considering key issues and often divides along regional lines AO3: Therefore Congress is less representative of national needs and priorities, although it can be said to be representative on an individual district or state basis, but is still quite unrepresentative on a national level. AO1: Congress is dominated by two main parties This means that the legislative agenda is dominated by the ideology of the two main parties, with little third party success- ‘crossing the floor’ to become independent rare AO3: Therefore there is a perception that voting for a third party is a ‘wasted’ vote, as these views will not be represented in the legislative agenda, which adds to unrepresentative nature of Congress as it continues to be dominated by just two parties. AO1: The unequal nature of the size of the chambers is unrepresentative The Senate has equal numbers with 2 representatives per state AO3: arguably this means Congress is unrepresentative as smaller states have equal power to larger states.

AO1: As both chambers are elected, there is accountability to their constituents If members of Congress are seen to not be adequately representing their constituents, this may lead to loss in the next election/reduction in financial support AO3: Therefore members of Congress must always pay some heed to their constituents’ needs and priorities, even as incumbents, to demonstrate why they should be re-elected, and so Congress does still play an important representative role. AO1: The House of Representatives in particular must be seen to be acting in their constituents’ interests The two-year election cycle for the House means members of Congress always have on eye on re-election, and so must pursue policy/legislation/funding for projects that appeal to their constituents AO3: meaning that the representative role of Congress is still vital. AO1: Individual members of Congress may use pork barrel politics to represent the needs of their individual states/districts This demonstrates that members of Congress are responsive to local needs AO3: Therefore members of Congress still fulfil as representative role, as much of their time is invested in adding pork barrel amendments to Bills and making deals to ensure support for them. AO1: With longer terms of office, the Senate can be more representative of national interests as well as state Six-year terms and the broader electoral support by state rather than electoral district (as the House requires) means the Senate are more able to focus on long-term issues that affect national interests rather than focusing on simply representing local or state-wide issues AO3: which allows them to play a more representative role than the House, with their shorter terms of office. AO1: Congress has become more representative over time Increases in representation of minority groups and the fact that there are now several high-profile members of Congress from minority groups AO3: suggest that Congress is making progress towards becoming more representative.