(AGI) Washington, Jan 6 - The 114th United States Congressopened on Tuesday with a Republican majority in both houses forthe first time in eight years. Although most of the members ofCongress are male and white, a record 104 women will alsoserve, making up just 20 percent of the total. Some 96minorities make up 18 percent of the new Congress, which iscomposed of 100 Senators and 435 Representatives. The new Houseof Representatives will consist of 246 Republicans and 188Democrats, while the Senate will consist of 54 Republicans, 44Democrats and two independent members. There are 84 women inthe new House, compared with a previous 80. These include newentry Republican Elise Stefanik, who at 30 is the youngest U.S.Representative, and Mia Love, 38, the first coloured femaleRepublican to obtain a seat in Congress. There are 44African-Americans and 34 Hispanics in the new House. The numberof women elected to the Senate remains unchanged at 20.President Barack Obama is due to meet the new Congress leadersnext week, ahead of what is expected to be a difficult twoyears with the Republicans ready to do battle over healthreform, immigration and the Keystone SL pipeline constructionproject. Mitch McConnell is the designated Republican Senateleader, taking over from Democrat Harry Reid, who is recoveringfrom an exercising accident and is missing the opening. JohnBoehner will have to overcome the opposition of a small butfierce group of conservative Republicans in the House, who willvote against his re-election. The official ceremony was due tostart at 12:00 p.m. local time. Newly-elected members andveterans will be sworn in. (AGI) . .