Sunday, November 9, 2008

Notes for 11-7-08

Electing Congress
1) Incumbents have very high rate of returning to congress
A) In the majority of elections since 1950, over 90% of all House incumbents have won relection
B) Paradoxically, public seems not to hold public in high esteem
C) Though voters tend to disdain congress as an institution, they are generally satisfied with their own senators and reps.
2) Meanwhile, incumbents remain protected by district lines that are gerrymandered to protect incumbents or the dominant party.
3) There are also other advantages
A) Have name recognition
B) Have Franking privilege or free posting
C) Have a history of providing assistance to constituents (casework)
D) Recieve substantial financial support from PACs
4) The opposing party and sympathetic PACs may target vulnerable incumbents, thus giving the challenger a better chance to succeed. Successful challengers tend to have previously held elective office and are capable of raising adequate campaign funds. Challengers tend to be most successful when incumbents appear vulnerable-- when they were elected by a narrow margin, or because of such factors as age, lack of seniority, involvement in scandal, or unfavorable redistricting.
5) Members of congress aren't representative of the US population in term of demographics. They tend to be much more highly educated than the typical American, and there are relatively few miniorities and women

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