Congressional ELECTIONS [AP Gov Review, Unit 5 Topic 9 (5.9)]

Summary

This video explains the U.S. congressional election process, focusing on key factors that influence elections. Congressional elections occur every two years, with House representatives serving two-year terms and Senators serving six-year terms, with one-third up for re-election every two years. The video highlights the significant incumbency advantage, where incumbents benefit from name recognition, a track record of success, established fundraising networks, and safe districts due to gerrymandering. Additionally, it covers primary elections and caucuses, which select party candidates. Overall, the video simplifies complex concepts in an engaging, humorous way, helping viewers grasp how congressional elections work.

Takeaways

• 😀 Congressional elections occur every two years, with House members serving two-year terms and Senators serving six-year terms.
• 😀 Midterm elections happen halfway through a president's term and often coincide with congressional elections.
• 😀 Presidential elections attract the highest voter turnout, while congressional elections have fewer participants.
• 😀 Incumbents have a significant advantage in congressional elections, with about 90% winning re-election.
• 😀 Name recognition is a major advantage for incumbents, making voters more likely to choose candidates they recognize.
• 😀 Incumbents can showcase their track record of accomplishments to appeal to voters and secure re-election.
• 😀 Incumbents have easier access to campaign funds due to their proven ability to win elections.
• 😀 Incumbents benefit from resources such as staff and privileges, including the ability to send free mail to constituents.
• 😀 Gerrymandering creates safe districts for incumbents, making it more difficult for challengers to win.
• 😀 Candidates for Congress are chosen through primary elections, which can be open (any voter can participate) or closed (only registered party members can vote).
• 😀 Some states use caucuses instead of primaries to select candidates through open discussion rather than secret ballots.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The video focuses on explaining the processes of U.S. congressional elections, comparing them to presidential elections, and highlighting the incumbency advantage in congressional races.

How often do congressional elections occur?

Congressional elections occur every two years, with members of the House of Representatives serving two-year terms and one-third of Senators up for re-election every two years.

What is the incumbency advantage in congressional elections?

The incumbency advantage refers to the benefits that current officeholders have in elections, including name recognition, a track record of accomplishments, established campaign funding, and the ability to gerrymander districts to increase re-election chances.

How does the incumbency advantage affect re-election rates?

Incumbents have a high re-election rate, with around 90% of them winning their elections due to factors such as name recognition, a proven track record, and access to campaign resources.

What is the significance of name recognition for incumbents?

Name recognition is a major factor for incumbents, as voters are more likely to vote for a candidate whose name they have heard before, even if they are not well-informed about other candidates in their district.

Why do incumbents have an advantage in fundraising?

Incumbents have an advantage in fundraising because they have a proven ability to win elections, making it easier to raise money for future campaigns. They also have a staff and privileges to communicate with constituents at no cost.

What is gerrymandering, and how does it benefit incumbents?

Gerrymandering is the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a particular party or incumbent. It benefits incumbents by creating 'safe districts,' making it more difficult for challengers to unseat them.

What is the difference between an open and closed primary?

An open primary allows any voter, regardless of party affiliation, to vote for a candidate, while a closed primary requires voters to be registered with a specific party in order to vote for that party's candidate.

What role do caucuses play in selecting candidates?

Caucuses serve the same purpose as primaries by selecting candidates, but unlike primaries, they involve open discussion and debate instead of a secret ballot to make the decision.

How do congressional elections relate to presidential elections?

Congressional elections often occur in the same year as presidential elections, but midterm elections, which happen two years after a presidential election, occur halfway through the president's term and typically have lower voter turnout.