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Congressional Elections

Congressional Elections. Free-Write.

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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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