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Congressional Elections

Explore the qualities of a good representative, behaviors they should engage in, and when they should prioritize constituents' interests over the greater good. Discuss who members of Congress represent and if elections ensure accountability. Examine rules governing election to Congress and factors influencing voters' decisions.

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Congressional Elections

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  1. Congressional Elections

  2. Free-Write Write a short essay discussing what constitutes good representation, in your mind. 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 this essay in for participation credit.

  3. 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

  4. Questions to consider: • Who do Members of Congress represent? • Do congressional elections ensure accountable representatives? • What kinds of candidates do elections favor?

  5. Rules governing election to Congress • The Constitution

  6. 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

  7. 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

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

  9. 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

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

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

  12. How do voters decide? • Heuristics • Campaigns

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

  14. Where does money come from?

  15. Where does money come from?

  16. Budget of a typical House campaign

  17. Median Voter Theorem • Assume that Ideology and issue positions are normally distributed in the population • In a winner-take-all system, candidates will try to get one more vote than the other candidate by moving toward the center. • Goal is to win over the “median voter”

  18. Who gets elected? • White men

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

  20. Questions to consider: • What kinds of candidates does this system of elections favor? • Do you think these elections produce people who are representative of the whole population? • Do they produce people who can represent the whole population well? • Do these elections have the potential to hold members accountable to their constituents?

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