Sure, The Democrats' gain of five House seats in the midterm Congressional elections leaves the two parties closer to parity than most political observers had predicted: 224 Republican seats to the Democrats' 210. The House appears to be moving toward a point of political balance; state by state, however, the scales are not so even.

Using the information in the box below, color or shade each state on the U.S. map to indicate whether its House delegation has a majority of Republican (red) or Democratic (blue) members. Then answer the questions at right.

Comprehension and Analysis

1. Describe regional patterns that emerge on this map. Which areas of the country appear to be most strongly
Republican? Most solidly Democratic? Which regions show a close-to-even balance between Republican and Democratic
representatives in Congress?

2. Make a prediction about the composition of the 107th Congress, to be elected in the year 2000. What do you think will happen in your own state? In the sections of the country you identified as "strongly Republican" and "solidly Democratic"? Why?