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 61% 21% 76% 7% 1997 79 20 91 7 S=Support; O=Oppose
Voting Participation Year % 1998 85 1997 98	Interest Groups Year ADA AFL-CIO CCUS ACU 1998 80% n/a 62% 14 % 1997 85 100 60 8
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

TENNESSEE 9 : Memphis

The 9th includes most of Tennessee's largest city, Memphis, which sits atop the bluffs of the Mississippi River. Memphis continues to struggle with racial tension that has hindered its growth since the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Most of its majority-black population lives downtown, while much of the white population has moved to the eastern suburbs. However, revitalization efforts have paved the way for inner-city economic development and integrated downtown residences such as Harbourtown and South Bluffs.

Memphis is a key distribution center. Federal Express is based at the Memphis International Airport, making it the world's busiest cargo airport and attracting international companies to the area. The economy also depends on St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, one of the nation's top pediatric-care centers.

It remains to be seen whether Memphis has fully recovered from industrial decline that began in the 1970s, but tourism has remained an economic mainstay, with people flocking to honor two American icons - Elvis Presley and Martin Luther King Jr. The hotel where King was assassinated is now a museum.

The 9th first sent an African-American to Congress in 1974, initiating the reign of Democratic, black political power in Memphis. Republicans usually capture the white vote and Democrats receive the black vote at all levels. However, in 1998, more than 40 percent of white voters sent Rep. Ford, a black Democrat, back to Congress, possibly signaling a change.

Major Industry
Distribution, health care, government

Population
541,710 (1990)

Cities
Memphis (pt.), 519,594 (1990)

People
99% urban; 12% age 65+ (ranks sixth of nine in state; middle third nationally); 40% married couples, 18% married couples with children; 17% college educated (ranks fourth of nine in state; middle third nationally); 57% white collar (ranks second of nine in state; middle third nationally), 25% blue collar (ranks eighth of nine in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Race
40% white, 59% black, 1% Asian; 1% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$22,117 (ranks seven of nine in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
Graceland, home of Elvis Presley; W.C. Handy developed the blues musical style on Beale Street; The Great American Pyramid, a 32-story downtown arena, seats 22,000 spectators.

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