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Getting Elected to Congress. Considering the information above, why is it that the vast majority of the members of Congress have been reelected to multiple terms in both houses?. Incumbency.
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Getting Elected to Congress Considering the information above, why is it that the vast majority of the members of Congress have been reelected to multiple terms in both houses?
Incumbency • Over the past 50 years 90% of House incumbents and 75% of Senate incumbents seeking reelection win. • Simply being an incumbent is the most important factor in winning a congressional election. • If Congress as an institution is viewed in such a negative light by the general public why does this happen? • Most Americans view Congress as an institution negatively but they feel that their Congressman does a good job. • Incumbents run for Congress by running against it.
Money • Incumbents are able to raise funds more easily than challengers. • PAC’s are more willing to contribute to incumbents. • Incumbents are able to spend more than challengers.
Visibility • Incumbents benefit from having more name recognition. • Incumbents attract media attention much more easily than challengers do. • Most freshmen in Congress benefit from the sophomore surge when they seek reelection the first time.
Constituent Service • Members of Congress engage in casework. • Casework – helping individual constituents with specific problems. • Pork Barrel Politics – Incumbents can steer federal $ to their home state/district. • Committee Assignments – enable incumbents to engage in pork barrel politics very easily.
Franking • Incumbents have the privilege of sending free mail to all of their constituents. • This can include emails and recorded phone messages. • By pointing out all of the good they are doing the district they are in effect campaigning through this mode of communication.
Gerrymandering • Congressional districts are redrawn every 10 years. • Many times these districts are gerrymandered to be “safe” for incumbents. • Safe District – A congressional district in which the incumbent wins election with 55% or more of the popular vote. • Gerrymandering of this nature discourages potentially strong challengers. • Can even be used to defeat an incumbent if the opposing party is in power in the state legislature.
Consequences of the Incumbency Advantage • Congress contains a large number of experienced leaders. This leads to continuity. • Continuity discourages radical change and encourages close relationships between legislators and interest groups and lobbyists. • Since incumbents benefit from campaign finance law there is to real incentive to reform it.
