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Congressional Elections

Congressional Elections. Constitution. Senators 6 years Selected by state legislatures 17 th Amendment, 1913: Direct election Members of House of Representatives 2 years Directly elected by people. Rules governing election to Congress. The Constitution.

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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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