1.11 Congressional Elections

Term Limits

Limits imposed by states on the number of terms an elected official can serve, which have been overturned by the Supreme Court.

Winner-Take-All System

An electoral system where the candidate receiving the most votes wins, used in the United States for congressional elections.

Closed Primary

A primary election where only registered party members can vote.

Open Primary

A primary election where independents can vote and voters can choose a ballot from any one party.

Incumbency Advantage

The benefits that incumbents (current officeholders) have over challengers, contributing to high reelection rates.

Franking Privilege

The privilege of sending mail without payment of postage, used by incumbents as an advantage.

Committee Service

Involvement of Congress members in committees that can benefit their districts and constituents.

Gerrymandering

The practice of manipulating electoral district boundaries to favor one party over another.

Coattail Effect

The influence that a popular candidate has on the success of other candidates on the same ballot.

Pork Barrel Projects

Government projects intended to benefit a particular district or constituents, often associated with incumbents.

Campaign Consultants

Professionals hired to guide candidates in their campaigning efforts, increasingly important in modern elections.

Midterm Elections

Elections held between presidential elections, often resulting in the loss of seats for the president's party.

Safe Seats

Electoral districts in which the incumbent or a particular party has a very strong chance of winning.