
The United States Congress
A HISTORY OF The chart width on each side corresponds to the number of -seats held by two groups of parties:- Chamber Midpoint (Control) THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS Seats held by left-leaning parties Seats held by right-leaning parties (e.g. Republican, Constitution) (e.g. Democratic, Green) Conservative Far Left (Below -500) ILeft (-300 to -500)- ICenter Left (0 to -300)- Far Right (500+) Right (300 to 500) -Center Right (0 to 300) Democrats Liberal-- Republicans Centerline (Party Divider) PARTISAN AND IDEOLOGICAL MAKEUP Color shows the ideological makeup of the two sides based on member DW-NOMINATE SCORES (see below for more) SENATE HOUSE PRESIDENCIES Members of Left-Leaning Parties Members of Right-Leaning Parties Members of Left-Leaning Parties Members of Right-Leaning Parties 30 280 240 200 160 120 30 120 160 2012 2012 "I The Tea Party wave of 2010 helped House Republicans regain all the ground they had lost in 2006 and Barack -OBAMA LEGEND CONG RESS - CONGRESS ---- Right Center Far Far Left 2010 2010 Right Left Right Center Right In the later years of the Bush Administration, Democrats regained 2008 Branches join in when new members enter Congress and cause an ideological bloc to grow. Center Financial Crisis and Recession 2008 Left Left Far Right A-- CONESS- (Note: If the new member is elected as another retires fom the same ideological bloc, no change is shown.) CO NG RESS -- 2008 and then some. The Democratic Party's gains in 2006 and 2008 came largely from centrist candidates in 2006 2006 George W. BUSH- control of the Senate Branches split off when members leave in 2006, and won a larger 2004 2004 Congress, causing their ideological bloc to shrink. (Note: If the new member is elected as another retires from the same ideological bloc,no change is shown) Iraq War majority in 2008 during the onset of the financial crisis. Center. While the size of the 2002 2002 Rght swing districts-the same ones who would be voted out in 2010. The yellow line marks the midpoint, which Republican majority didn't change very much during this period, its internal makeup did. The centrist bloc nearly vanished, and in every election from 1984 to 2004, the far right bloc grew. Afghanistan War indicates which side has control of the chamber: 2000 2000 If a bloc loses members in one election and gains them in the next, the exiting stream may rejoin. 1998 1998 Bill Democratic losses in 1994 This does notnecessarily mean the same people retumed 1996
The United States Congress
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