The US Congress 118th: a Gender Portrait

Abstract

Senator Patty Murray of Washington was solemnly sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris in the Old Senate Hall on Capitol Hill in Washington on January 3, 2023, in front of Murray's husband, Rob Murray. She became the first woman to temporarily become President of the Senate. The episode is like a historical symbol of the conquest of heights of power by American women in the first quarter of the 21st century: a duet of American women perform a "routine" action in the procedure for transferring power. The American press, not without reason, interprets the results of the election of women to various levels during the 2022 midterm elections as “new records”. The 118th US Congress (2022-2024) has a record number of women. The point of view that it was the issue of abortion that helped "limit the losses of the Democrats" in the last election cycle was widely accepted among specialists. The Supreme Court's dismissal of Roe v. Wade has placed abortion at the center of the election debate, along with the economy, inflation and immigration. The election took place amid a global financial downturn and a notable rise in the cost of living in the United States. In addition, they are the first since the June 2022 Supreme Court ruling overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. The Democrats retained control of the Senate. The Republican Party won a majority in the House of Representatives. In thinking about expanding the political power and representation of American women, it is necessary to consider the barriers to women's retention in office and how to remove those barriers, recognizing the full range of diversity among them—and, in particular, the diversity of their political experiences and opportunities—in political institutions. The gubernatorial level of power demonstrates the same trend. Nearly a quarter of all US governors are women. Moreover, there are twice as many women democrats among them. In total, 12 American women occupy this level of office: 8 of them are Democrats, 4 - Republicans.