Congressional Elections

Question 1

List the 5 key trends in Congressional elections + the acronym used to remember them.

(REMEMBER THE ORDER OF THESE AS THE CORRESPONDING NO. NEXT TO EACH TREND WILL BE REFERRED TO IN SUBSEQUENT FLASHCARDS!)

Answer 1

1. ) [C]oattails effect
2. ) Fewer [C]ompetitive [H]ouse elections
3. ) Strong support for the [I]ncumbent
4. ) [P]resident’s party tends to lose in mid-terms
5. ) [S]plit-ticket voting

Acronym = C CHIPS

Question 2

Reapportionment is the process by which the each states’ __ __ __ __ __ (and therefore their __ __ __ __) changes.

It happens every __ census.

Reapportionment leads to __, which is where…

Answer 2

Reapportionment is the process by which the each states’ REPRESENTATION IN THE HOUSE OF REPS (and therefore their REPRESENTATION IN THE EC) changes.

It happens every DECENNIAL census.

Reapportionment leads to REDISTRICTING, which is where THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS OF EACH STATES ARE RE-DRAWN IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THE CHANGES IN THE NO. OF DISTRICTS DUE TO REAPPORTIONMENT)