An Illusion of Democracy

• The US ranks 139th in the world in average turnout in national elections since 1945. It's been decades since even half of adults voted in congressional elections in a nonpresidential year.

• The US Senate has great powers but lacks a single African-American or Latino. A random group of 100 Americans would include 25 African-Americans and Latinos.

• During the 2000 election, 13% of black men were barred from voting contrasted to only 2% of white men.

• The total percentage of women in Congress is stalled at less than 15 percent, and the percentage in state legislatures has declined.

• After blatant incumbent protection in redistricting, only four House incumbents lost to nonincumbent challengers in 2002 - the fewest in history.

• More than 40 percent of state legislative races have been won without major party opposition in each election since 1996.