The 5th District is in central Indiana and includes all of Tipton, Grant, Miami, Wabash, Huntington, Hamilton, and Hancock Counties, and parts of Marion, Shelby, Howard and Johnson counties. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Burton was born Indianapolis, was educated at Indiana University, and the Cincinnati Bible Seminary and served in the United States Army. Before his election to Congress, Burton was a member of the Indiana State Senate (1969-1970 and 1981-1982), and the Indiana House of Representatives (1967-1968 and 1977-1980).
A member of the Government Reform Committee, Burton served as its Chairman from 1997 to 2002. He is now Chairman of its Subcommittee on Human Rights and Wellness and a member of its Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations.
Burton is also the senior member of the International Relations Committee and is a member of its Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific and Subcommittee on Europe, Member.