The 117th U.S. Congress took office in January, with Democrats holding narrow majorities in the House and Senate.
Apart from its political makeup, the new Congress differs from prior ones in other ways, including its demographics.
The current Congress is the most racially and ethnically diverse ever. Overall, 124 lawmakers identify as Black, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islander, or Native American – making up 23% of Congress.
And, the number of women in Congress is at an all-time high. About a century after the first woman was elected to Congress, there are 144 women in the national legislature, accounting for a record 27% of all members across both chambers.
