Congressional Election - American Government: Process and Policies | PSCI 1050, Study notes of Local Government Studies

Download Congressional Election - American Government: Process and Policies | PSCI 1050 and more Study notes Local Government Studies in PDF only on Docsity! Chapter 11 Choosing the Congress © 2009, Pearson Education Fiorina, Peterson, Johnson, and Mayer New American Democracy, Sixth Edition © 2009, Pearson Education The Electoral Evolution of the Congress Congress has changed significantly since the Founder’s conceived of it Today things are different: – More career-driven – Very electorally aware Congress became a career in the 20th century. House tenure increased dramatically. © 2009, Pearson Education Reapportionment and Redistricting Redistricting Drawing new boundaries of congressional districts, usually after the decennial census Restrictions placed on the number of people placed within each district and the shape of the boundaries. Gerrymandering: drawing lines of congressional districts in order to confer an advantage on some partisan or political interest. – Infers a particular motive for drawing district lines © 2009, Pearson Education The Congressional Nomination Process Congressional nomination process is much simpler than presidential one Most states choose their candidates in one primary prior to the general election Hardest fought primaries occur when there is an open seat – Open seat: A House or Senate race with no incumbent, because of death or retirement © 2009, Pearson Education Contemporary House Elections Safe seat: a congressional district certain to vote for the candidate of one party Incumbency advantage: the electoral advantage a candidate enjoys by virtue of being an incumbent, over and above his or her personal and political characteristics – Greater visibility – Party decline – Cater to constituents – Greater access to resources © 2009, Pearson Education Expanding Member Resources Each member has: A Washington office and one or more district offices Typical House member employs 18 personal staff assistants (more than 40 percent in district) Travel subsidies Use of the frank (free use of the U.S. mail) © 2009, Pearson Education Campaign Funds Elections for Congress have become increasingly expensive The average total spent by House candidates was almost $680K in 2006 The average senator spent more than $5 million © 2009, Pearson Education Contemporary Senate Elections Incumbent Senators win more often than not, but they do lose more frequently Senate elections differ from House elections in: – Party competition – Uncontrolled information – Better challengers – The high ambitions of senators © 2009, Pearson Education Better Challengers The office of senator enjoys a higher status than the office of representative Higher-quality challengers are more willing to risk a race for a prestigious office Challengers for senate seats tend to be – More politically experienced – Better known and liked – Have more money © 2009, Pearson Education High Ambitions Many senators have “high” ambitions Desire to be president Take positions on larger national and international issues to build their credibility as a presidential contender – May offend constituents – May be accused of neglecting their state Percentage Reelected 50 a 4 a 1946 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1988 1990 1994 1998 2002 2004 2006 ‘ a a BB House incumbent © Senate incumbent FIGURE 11.5 REELECTION RATES Representatives are reelected more often than senators. + Why do Senate incumbents lose so much more frequently than House incumbents? Sone: Harold W, Stanley and Richard G. Nemi, Vital Statistics on American Politics 2005—2006 (Washington, DC: cQ Press, 2006). © 2009, Pearson Education National Forces in the 1990s Republicans offered the Contract with America in 1994 – Offered legislation the Republican Party promised to address if elected. – Republicans won 52 seats in House and 8 seats in the Senate One of few times congressional elections have been run on national issues © 2009, Pearson Education © 2009, Pearson Education Congressional Elections in the 2000s: Neck and Neck The Republicans retained their congressional majorities in the 2000 elections, but barely – Republican House; majority by 5 seats – Senate an exact tie 2002 midterms – Voters had national issues in mind – Republicans gained seats in the House and Senate despite holding the White House – Potentially positive effect of popular president of their party Congressional Elections in the 2000s: Neck and Neck 2004 election – Republicans gained a couple of seats in the House of Representatives. – Republicans had a net gain of 4 seats in the Senate. Foreign policy was the central issue. – “War on Terror” or “Iraq Invasion” © 2009, Pearson Education A Representative Body? Low representation among women and racial and ethnic minorities – Substantive representation – Descriptive representation Ranked low among democratic nations for the numbers of women in legislature © 2009, Pearson Education A Representative Body? Minorities win most frequently within majority-minority districts – Majority-minority districts- minority group is majority of voting population – Limits to majority-minority districting • Limited number can be created • May marginalize minority politicians in Congress © 2009, Pearson Education