CQ Voting Studies are an annual analysis of a member's support or opposition to a given position. Interest Group Ratings are based on rankings from groups chosen to represent liberal, conservative, business and labor viewpoints.Voting Participation scores are based on the number of times a member voted "yea" or "nay" on roll call votes (not including quorum calls in the House). CQ Vote Studies Year Presidential Support Party Unity   S* O* S O 1998 52% 44% 58% 39% 1997 52 48 58 42 1996 65 35 59 41 1995 55 44 54 44 1994 85 14 78 19 1993 82 17 79 21 1992 39 58 75 23 1991 38 61 77 22 S=Support; O=Oppose
Voting Participation Year % 1998 98 1997 99 1996 99 1995 99 1994 97 1993 99 1992 99 1991 99	Interest Groups Year ADA AFL-CIO CCUS ACU 1998 65% n/a 78% 44 % 1997 45 75 80 48 1996 40 55 63 55 1995 45 67 71 52 1994 40 78 58 38 1993 45 83 18 38 1992 55 58 50 44 1991 40 83 40 40
Note on Interest Groups: ADA=Americans for Democratic Action; AFL-CIO=American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations; CCUS=Chamber of Commerce of the United States; ACU=American Conservative Union

ALABAMA 5 : North - Huntsville

A large section of the Tennessee River winds through the 5th, which borders Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee. Reliant on agriculture before World War II, the 5th now owes its economic well-being to the federal government. Huntsville is best known for hosting the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, but defense has contributed more to its economy. Redstone Arsenal benefited from the recent series of base closures, incorporating Army aviation duties to its missile command center and increasing its personnel. Redstone has attracted several high-tech plants.

Tennessee Valley Authority facilities line the river's shores throughout the 5th, but most are not directly threatened by cuts in federal funding. Boeing is building a satellite rocket booster plant in Decatur, and economists predict it and offshoot companies could create as many as 6,000 jobs in the western portion of the district. Jackson County, where the textile industry has all but vanished in the past few years, has lagged. A slowly growing paper plant and a soon-to-be constructed drywall factory are providing initial steps toward economic recovery.

Voters in the 5th have never sent a Republican to Congress, but Republican presidential candidates have enjoyed a slight edge recently. The district claims a generally socially conservative constituency.

Major Industry
Defense, government, manufacturing

Military Bases
Redstone Arsenal, 2,025 military, 16,750 civilian (1997)

Population
577,235 (1990)

Cities
Huntsville, 170,424; Decatur, 53,797; Florence, 38,999 (1997)

People
54% urban; 11% age 65+ (ranks seventh of seven in state; bottom third nationally); 62% married couples, 29% married couples with children; 20% college educated (ranks second of seven in state; middle third nationally); 56% white collar (ranks second of seven in state; middle third nationally), 31% blue collar (ranks sixth of seven in state; top third nationally) (1990)

Race
83% white, 15% black, 1% Asian; 1% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$28,364 (ranks second of seven in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
"Muscle Shoals Sound" originated at Fame Recording Studios, where Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett recorded hit songs.

© 2002 The Washington Post Company