Congress by the Numbers: The 112th's New Composition

The 112th Congress brings a lot of new numbers to Washington, including 94 freshman, of which 85 are Republicans and nine are Democrats. In total, 242 House members are Republicans while 193 are Democrats.

Two other Republicans were elected to the House on Nov. 2, but were sworn near the end of the 111th Congress. Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana filled the vacancy caused by the resignation of Republican Rep. Mark Souder while Rep. Tom Reed of New York filled the vacancy caused by the resignation of Democratic Rep. Eric Massa.

Over on the Senate side, 13 new senators will be sworn in Wednesday by Vice President Joe Biden in his capacity as president of the Senate, plus another three freshmen who were elected in November but were sworn in during the 111th Congress. Thirty-five senators are taking the oath.

The new makeup of the Senate is 51 Democrats, 2 independents who vote with Democrats and  47 Republicans, which includes Alaska's newly re-elected Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

Rep. John Boehner becomes the 53rd speaker of the House though it will be the 61st term for a speaker. Some individuals were speaker more than once and served non-consecutive terms.

Other details about the 112th:

• 78 women in the House; 25 Republican, 53 Democrat
• 18 women senators; 5 Republican, 13 Democrat
• 44 African Americans in the House; 2 Republican, 42 Democrat
• 34 freshmen affiliated with Tea Parties, 29 in the House and five in the Senate
• 43 freshman lawmakers never held elected office before; three Senate Republicans, 39 House Republicans and one House Democrat
• 209 lawmakers came from the business arena, 28 in the Senate and 181 in the House. 
• 29 freshmen in the House and Senate had at one time been a small business owner
• 200 members have practiced law as a profession; 52 in the Senate and 148 in the House
• 24 members are in the medical profession or were doctors; five in the Senate and 19 in the House
• 26 members in the Senate are military veterans; 12 Democrats and 14 Republicans
• 92 members in the House are military veterans; 26 Democrats and 66 Republicans