Electoral systems- congressional elections Flashcards
Timings of the senate elections?
Serve for 6 years
Have re-elections every 2 years but only 1/3 senate up
Timings of HOR elections?
All representatives up for election every 2 years
When are elections held?
Either with the president
Or in mid terms
-Always held on tuesday after the first monday of november
Constitutional requirement to be in the house?
Age 25+, american citizen for 7 years
Have to be resident of the state they represent
Constitutional requirement to be in the senate?
Age 30+
American citizen for 9 years
Live in state they represent
What is the locality rule?
Representatives have to live in the congressional district they represent
What is the nomination process?
Can be congressional primary’s
In senate, incumbency?
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
In house, incumbency?
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-In 2012 5 who lost challenges, 2 ran in districts that have been substantially withdrawn to disadvantage
Competitive districts in 1992?
111 competitive districts meaning they were won by test
10% of points in previous elections
Competitive districts in 2016?
31 competitive districts
Significance of competitive districts?
Harder for party to take control of the house
-Safe seats voting to party whip
Significance of competitive districts- Harder for party to take control of the house?
In 2016, democrats needed 30 seats to regain control
Only 31 competitive seats making it unlikely
In the end dems only gained 6 seats
Significance of competitive districts- Safe seats voting to party whip?
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
Does the president gain seats in both houses in mid terms?
-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