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Congressional Elections

This text provides an overview of the rules and processes governing Congressional elections in the United States, including election to the House of Representatives and the Senate. It also explores the concepts of reapportionment, redistricting, and the criteria used in drawing district lines. Additionally, it discusses the role of money, incumbency advantage, and factors influencing how voters decide. Lastly, it examines the values associated with representation and what constitutes good representation.

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Congressional Elections

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  1. Congressional Elections

  2. Constitution • Senators • 6 years • Selected by state legislatures • 17th Amendment, 1913: Direct election • Members of House of Representatives • 2 years • Directly elected by people

  3. Rules governing election to Congress • The Constitution

  4. Constitution: election to the House of Representatives • Election every 2 years • Must be 25 years old • Citizenship for 7 years • Live in the state • Selected same way as largest house of state legislature (popular vote) • Apportioned among states based on population

  5. Constitution: election to the Senate • Election every 6 years • Three Classes • Must be at least 30 years old • Citizen for 9 years • Live in the state • Selected by state legislatures • 2 per state

  6. Rules governing election to Congress • The Constitution • Single-member, winner-take all districts • Reapportionment and redistricting

  7. Reapportionment • When the federal government reallocates seats among the states after the decennial census

  8. Gains CA (+1) AZ (+2) CO (+1) FL (+2) GA (+2) NV (+1) TX (+2) Losses CT (-1) NY (-2) IL (-1) IN (-1) MI (-1) OH (-1) OK (-1) PA (-2) WI (-1) Gains and losses due to 2000 reapportionment

  9. Redistricting • When states redraw congressional district boundaries after decennial census • Wesberry v. Sanders (1964) • Each district must have equal population

  10. What criteria should states use in deciding where to draw district lines?

  11. Conflicting Values • Contiguity of boundaries (requirement) • Equal population (requirement) • Compactness • Keeping together communities of interest • Protecting interests of racial minorities • Meeting requirements of Voting Rights Act • Partisan gerrymandering • Incumbent protection • Maximizing competition

  12. Rules governing election to Congress • The Constitution • Single-member, winner-take all districts • Reapportionment and redistricting • Primary election laws • Open vs. Closed • FECA

  13. Federal Election Campaign Act(as amended by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002) • Contribution limit (individuals) = $2000 • Total cycle contribution limit = $95,000 • Contribution limit (PACs) = $5000

  14. How do voters decide? Heuristics: • Party ID • Name recognition • Incumbency!

  15. Sources of incumbent advantage • Voters recognize their name • Gerrymandering • Privileges of office • Ease of raising money

  16. How do voters decide? • Heuristics • Campaigns

  17. Cost of campaigns 2000 House: • Ave. expenditures: $693,952 • Incumbents’ ave. expenditures: $814,507 • Challengers’ ave. expenditures: $369,823

  18. Where does money come from?

  19. Where does money come from?

  20. Budget of a typical House campaign

  21. Who gets elected? • White men

  22. Who gets elected? • White men • Lawyers • Christians • Previously elected officials

  23. Small group discussion What constitutes good representation? What characteristics of a representative would make you feel like he or she should do a good job representing you and your interests? What behavior should a good representative engage in? When, if ever, should a representative put his constituents’ interests aside and think of the greater good? You will turn your notes in for participation credit.

  24. Values associated with representation • Looking like me, having my background • “Symbolic representation” • Rep. uses own judgment to act on my behalf • “Representative-as-delegate” • Doing exactly what I would do • “Representative as agent” • Communication with me

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