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

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

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

Rules governing election to Congress The Constitution Single-member, winner-take all districts Reapportionment and redistricting

Reapportionment When the federal government reallocates seats among the states after the decennial census

Gains and losses due to 2000 reapportionment 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)

Redistricting When states redraw congressional district boundaries after decennial census Wesberry v. Sanders (1964) –Each district must have equal population

What criteria should states use in deciding where to draw district lines?

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

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

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

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

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

How do voters decide? Heuristics Campaigns

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

Where does money come from?

Budget of a typical House campaign

Who gets elected? White men

Who gets elected? White men Lawyers Christians Previously elected officials

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.

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