Electoral systems- congressional elections Flashcards

1
Q

Timings of the senate elections?

A

Serve for 6 years
Have re-elections every 2 years but only 1/3 senate up

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2
Q

Timings of HOR elections?

A

All representatives up for election every 2 years

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3
Q

When are elections held?

A

Either with the president
Or in mid terms
-Always held on tuesday after the first monday of november

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4
Q

Constitutional requirement to be in the house?

A

Age 25+, american citizen for 7 years
Have to be resident of the state they represent

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5
Q

Constitutional requirement to be in the senate?

A

Age 30+
American citizen for 9 years
Live in state they represent

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6
Q

What is the locality rule?

A

Representatives have to live in the congressional district they represent

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7
Q

What is the nomination process?

A

Can be congressional primary’s

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8
Q

In senate, incumbency?

A

Incumbents can be challenged but its rare
-Since 1982 only 8 incumbent in primaries
-Some may switch parties if they loose e.g Joe Liberman lost then won as he became and independent
-Most recent defeat was Republican Richard Lugar in indiana 2012

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9
Q

In house, incumbency?

A

13 defeated in 2012 because every 2 yrs 400 HOR seek re election so often changes in congress boundaries so faces incumbency
-In 2012 5 who lost challenges, 2 ran in districts that have been substantially withdrawn to disadvantage

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10
Q

Competitive districts in 1992?

A

111 competitive districts meaning they were won by test
10% of points in previous elections

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11
Q

Competitive districts in 2016?

A

31 competitive districts

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12
Q

Significance of competitive districts?

A

Harder for party to take control of the house
-Safe seats voting to party whip

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13
Q

Significance of competitive districts- Harder for party to take control of the house?

A

In 2016, democrats needed 30 seats to regain control
Only 31 competitive seats making it unlikely
In the end dems only gained 6 seats

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14
Q

Significance of competitive districts- Safe seats voting to party whip?

A

Democratic congressman Stanford Bishop of Georgia’s second districts
Won 61% of vote so it’s logical to support own party
In contrast- Republican Parello Issa California’s 49th districts won by 5000 vote so needs to appease both sides of voting in congress

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15
Q

Does the president gain seats in both houses in mid terms?

A

-Presidents looses seats in both houses
-Between 1994 and 2014 presidents lost an average of 35 house seats and 4.5 senate seats
-In 2002, last 40 years were only time presidents party gained seats in both houses during mid terms

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16
Q

How come presidents barley get seats in both houses during mid terms?

A

-If positive carried out before 2 years then likely they will do less well w/o president on tiket
-Voters see mid terms as a choice to express disappointment or disapproval with presidents past 2 or 6 years in office
-2006, voters expressed disappointment in Bush, such inability to conclude missions in Iraq, loosing 30 in HOR and 6 in senate
-In 2012 Obama, 63 lost in HOR and 6 in senate