In the House of Representatives, not only do more than 90 percent of incumbents seeking reelection usually win, but most of them win with more than 60 percent of the vote
Discuss why the rate at which incumbents are reelected to the Senate is lower than at which House members are reelected.
What will be an ideal response?
An ideal response will:
1, Explain that there is greater competition in the Senate, in part because an entire state is almost always more diverse than a congressional district and thus provides a larger base for opposition to an incumbent.
2, Note that senators have less personal contact with their constituencies, which on average are about 10 times larger than those of members of the House of Representatives.
3, Note that senators also receive more coverage in the media than representatives do and are more likely to be held accountable on controversial issues.
4, Note that senators tend to draw more skilled and visible challengers, such as governors or members of the House, whom voters already know and who have substantial financial backing—a factor that lessens the advantages of incumbency.
You might also like to view...
Passive deception is to whereas active deception is to
a. omission, commission b. intrusion, extrusion c. commission, omission d. extrusion, intrusion
Civil law holds that when a new corporation is chartered __________ and the new corporation is one that can sue, be sued, or be fined for criminal activity
A) a new legal person is created B) the secretary of state endorses it C) a writ of injunction is issued D) the antitrust law ensues
Which of the following statements is true of the functions of political parties?
A) They act as the major institutions through which the executive and legislative branches cooperate with each other. B) They help increase the voting choices for the electorate by widening the pool of candidates contesting in the general elections. C) They allow the executive and legislative branches of the government to function independently of each other. D) They keep the public from interfering in the affairs of the government. E) They work together to fashion legislation that serves only their own interests.
Which of the following best describes the restrictions placed on using money in political campaigns?
A) Campaigns can spend their money only on television advertising and other types of campaign communication. B) Campaigns are limited to spending no more than $108,000 in Texas Senate elections and $76,000 in Texas House elections. C) Campaigns cannot spend money within the last month before the election. D) Campaigns are required to give ten percent of their contributions to the state to pay for the administration of the election. E) There are relatively few restrictions.