The Traits That Once Predicted Who Would Be Elected To Congress

The video explores the backgrounds of U.S. Congress members, highlighting their wealth, education, and demographics. It references a satirical quote by Mark Twain and presents research from Stanford and Boston University using de-anonymized census data. The study reveals that Congress members often come from wealthier, educated families and succeed in the private sector before politics. Despite increased diversity, Congress members remain wealthier than the general population, raising questions about the financial barriers to running for office and voter preferences for successful candidates.

In what ways has the diversity of Congress changed over the years?

What implications does the wealth of Congress members have on the political landscape?