The changing face of Congress in 7 charts
Apart from its political makeup, the new Congress differs from prior ones in other ways, including its demographics.
Biden is only the second Catholic president, but nearly all have been Christians
Although Catholicism has long been one of the largest U.S. religious groups, John F. Kennedy and Joe Biden are the only Catholic presidents.
Faith on the Hill
When it comes to religious affiliation, the 117th U.S. Congress looks similar to the previous Congress but quite different from Americans overall.
Government restrictions on religion around the world reached new record in 2018
Government restrictions in 2018 were at their highest level since 2007, when Pew Research Center began tracking these trends.
Restrictions on religion among the 25 most populous countries, 2007-2018
Among the 25 most populous countries, India, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan and Russia had the highest levels of overall restrictions on religion in 2018, while Japan, South Africa, Italy, Brazil and the United States had the fewest restrictions.
In 2018, Government Restrictions on Religion Reach Highest Level Globally in More Than a Decade
In 2018, the global median level of government restrictions on religion – that is, laws, policies and actions by officials that impinge on religious beliefs and practices – continued to climb, reaching an all-time high since Pew Research Center began tracking these trends in 2007.
8 facts about religion and government in the United States
The separation of church and state has come under scrutiny again after the Supreme Court sided with religious conservatives in several rulings.
More Americans say Trump administration has helped evangelicals than other groups
President Trump has called himself a defender of religious liberty. But how do Americans see his administration’s effect on religious groups?
Most states have religious exemptions to COVID-19 social distancing rules
Only 10 states are preventing in-person religious gatherings in any form, according to our analysis of recent state-level regulations.
Half of Americans say Bible should influence U.S. laws, including 28% who favor it over the will of the people
About half of Americans say the Bible should have at least “some” influence on U.S. laws; 23% say it should have “a great deal” of influence.
