Congressional elections

Question 1

When are house members elected?

Answer 1

every two years

Question 2

when are members of the senate elected?

Answer 2

every 6 years (with 1/3rd up for election every 2yrs)

Question 3

what are elections in the years between presidential elections called?

Answer 3

midterm elections (fall midway through the presidents term in office)

Question 4

what are the requirements for a congressional candidate in the HOR?

Answer 4

• at least 25yrs old
• a US citizen for at least 7yrs
• a resident of the state they represent

Question 5

what are the requirements for a congressional candidate in the senate?

Answer 5

• at least 30yrs old
• a US citizen for at least 30yrs
• resident of the state they represent

Question 6

How is a nomination for a congressional candidate secured?

Answer 6

Through the congressional primaries

Question 7

Between 2000 - 2020 House re-election rates ranged from ___% to __%

Answer 7

85%
98%

Question 8

Between 2000 - 2020 senate re-election rates ranged from ___% to ___%

Answer 8

79%
96%

Question 9

What are reasons for high re-election rates for incumbents in congress?

Answer 9

• Incumbents ability to provide federal funding for constituency/state projects
• High levels of name recognition
• Fundraising advantages: incumbents can usually raise much more than challengers

Question 10

What is the coattails effect?

Answer 10

When an extremely popular candidate at the top of the ticket carries candidates for lower offices with them into office

Question 11

Give an example of the coattails effect?

Answer 11

Republican Reagan helped win 33 house seats and 12 senate seats

Question 12

What is split ticket voting?

Answer 12

Voting for candidates of two or more parties for different offices at the same election
E.g. voting for the president of one party but a senator of the other

Question 13

Give evidence for the coattails effect becoming limited

Answer 13

Rep Trump in 2016 senate races helped three incumbent republicans win seats they were expected to lose
(Major decline in the power of the effect)

Question 14

Give evidence that split ticket voting is declining

Answer 14

The number of states voting for a presidential candidate of one party and a senator from the other declined from 6 out of 34 in 2004 to zero in 2016

Question 15

What is a competitive district?

Answer 15

One in which the winner won by less than 10 percentage points at the previous election

Question 16

Give evidence that competitive house districts are decreasing

Answer 16

111 in 1992 to 72 in 2020

Question 17

Why is competitive house districts declining significant?

Answer 17

• It makes it much harder for party control of the House to change hands
• Members from safe districts are more likely to cast party-line votes than those from competitive ones (potential one party system)
• Increases levels of partisanship/polarisation

Question 18

Why does the presidents party tend to lose seats in congress during midterm elections?

Answer 18

• Without the winning presidential candidate on the ticket, House members from the president’s party do less well
• Voters see midterms as an opportunity to register disapproval with the pres