Congressional Elections - Key Points

Overview

• Focus: Understanding how U.S. Congressional elections work.
• Comparison with presidential elections, noting similarities and differences.

Basics of Congressional Elections

• Occur every two years.
  • House of Representatives: 2-year terms.
  • Senate: 6-year terms, with one-third up for re-election every two years.
• Elections coincide with presidential elections every four years, known as 'midterm elections' when held halfway through a presidential term.

Voter Turnout

• Presidential elections typically have higher voter turnout compared to congressional elections.

Factors Influencing Congressional Elections

Incumbency Advantage

• Definition: Incumbent refers to the current office holder running for re-election.
• High Re-election Rate: Approximately 90% of incumbents win re-election.
• Reasons for Advantage:
  • Name Recognition: Voters are more likely to recognize incumbents.
  • Track Record: Incumbents can showcase past achievements.
  • Established Funding: Easier fundraising due to proven electoral success.
  • Staff and Mail Privileges: Incumbents have staff and free mailing to communicate achievements.
  • Safe Districts/Gerrymandering: Often leads to secure re-election, despite being controversial and potentially illegal.

Candidate Selection Process

• Primaries:
  • Open Primaries: Voters can vote for any party candidate.
  • Closed Primaries: Voters must be registered with a party to vote for its candidate.
• Caucuses: An alternative to primaries, involving open discussion and debate to choose candidates.

Additional Resources

• Mention of a review packet available for better class performance and exam preparation.

Conclusion

• Encouragement to subscribe for more educational videos on similar topics.