Distinguish outcomes from membership
Seats won through an election and seats occupied at a later date are different observations. Vacancies, appointments and other lawful changes can affect membership. A historical election result should not be presented automatically as today's institutional composition.
Check which chamber or body is included. Lower-house, upper-house, local-government and executive records may follow different rules and should remain distinct.
Understand the denominator
A seat share needs a stated total: occupied seats, all legally established seats or another clearly defined population. A change in that denominator can affect a percentage. Do not compare shares without checking the basis of calculation.
Where demographic information is missing, retain that uncertainty. An unrecorded classification does not establish that a member is male or belongs to any other group.
Ask about leadership and influence separately
A membership count does not describe every form of authority. Institutional leadership, committee responsibilities and decision-making positions require additional evidence. The presence of women in an institution should not be treated as proof of a particular policy outcome.
Use representation statistics as the beginning of a question. Read the source, reference date and institutional context, then consider which further records would be needed to understand the distribution and exercise of public power.