Congressional Elections Overview

Congress is America’s legislative body, made up of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Members of Congress are directly elected by the public in congressional elections.
The House of Representatives consists of 435 seats, with representatives serving 2-year terms. All seats are up for election every 2 years.
The Senate consists of 100 seats, with senators serving 6-year terms. Elections are staggered, with approximately one-third of seats up for election every 2 years.
Congressional districts are drawn by state legislatures, but can be subject to gerrymandering.

Election Procedures

Candidates for Congress typically receive nominations from the two major political parties in the US, the Democrats and the Republicans.
Multi-stage primary elections are usually held to determine the candidate for each party.
The dates and rules for these primaries vary by state.
The general election in November selects the winner, typically based on a ‘first-past-the-post’ (FPTP) system.

Campaigning and fundraising are pivotal parts of congressional elections, with candidates needing to raise substantial amounts of money.
Funds are typically raised through donations, often from Political Action Committees (PACs), Super PACs, and individual contributors.
Campaign finance is a contentious issue in American politics, with criticisms around transparency, influence of wealthy donors, and potential for corruption.

Regular congressional elections are intended to ensure representatives are accountable to their constituents.
Elections can significantly shift the balance of power between the parties in Congress, affecting the ability to pass legislation.
The mid-term elections, held halfway through a President’s four-year term, are often viewed as a referendum on the President’s performance.

Incumbent advantage is a key characteristic of congressional elections: sitting congressional members are often re-elected.
Congressional elections are often impacted by national issues and events, despite being local in scope. This phenomenon is called the nationalization of elections.
Split-ticket voting, where a voter chooses candidates from different parties on the same ballot, has become less common over time.

Polarisation between the two main parties has been increasingly evident in congressional elections.
Critics argue that gerrymandering distorts representation in the House of Representatives, leading to ‘safe’ seats and reducing competition.
Low voter turnout, especially in mid-term elections, raises concerns about the representativeness of Congress.
The role of big money in campaign financing, and influence of special interest groups, is another major point of criticism.