View
212
Download
0
Category
Tags:
Preview:
Citation preview
Questions to consider:
• Who would want to run for Congress?
• How do they get elected?
• What kinds of candidates are advantaged by our electoral rules?
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
• Redistricting
• Primary election laws– Open vs. Closed
• FECA
Federal Election Campaign Act(as amended by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002)
• Individual Contribution limit = $2000
• Total cycle contribution limit = $95,000
• PAC Contribution limit = $5000
Cost of campaigns
2000 House:
• Ave. expenditures: $693,952
• Incumbents’ ave. expenditures: $814,507
• Challengers’ ave. expenditures: $369,823
Where does money come from?House candidates' ave. funding sources,
2000
Candidate11%
Individuals51%
Other5%
Party2%
PACs31%
Individuals PACs Party Candidate Other
TV ads 21.8%
Staff salaries 17.8%
Radio ads 12.3%
Overhead 10.5%
Fundraising 9.4%
Direct mail 8.1%
Campaign literature 8.0%
Travel 2.5%
Polling 2.1%
Voter reg./GOTV 1.3%
Other 4%
Typical House campaign budget
Sources of incumbent advantage
• Voters recognize their name
• Gerrymandering
• Privileges of office
• Ease of raising money
Recommended