Final answer:
Women are the most underrepresented demographic in Congress, holding only about 25 percent of seats, despite comprising over half the population. Both African Americans and Latinos are underrepresented but to a lesser extent. Voting patterns show that wealthy, older, White males are the most likely to vote, exacerbating this underrepresentation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The demographic that is most underrepresented in Congress is women. Despite making up more than half of the U.S. population, they occupy only about 25 percent of the seats in Congress. On the other hand, while African Americans and Latinos are also underrepresented, their representation has seen some growth, with African Americans comprising a larger percentage than Latinos relative to their population sizes. Latinas, particularly, are underrepresented with just 4.4 percent of state legislators compared to their 18.5 percent share of the U.S. population. Racial and ethnic minorities overall remain underrepresented in legislative bodies, as do women despite the legal protections afforded to ensure equal voting rights. This gender disparity extends to voting patterns, with wealthy, older, educated White males being the most likely to vote, further solidifying the underrepresentation of other demographics in the electoral process.