Election Essay Topics

TexasElections

Essay#3

InTexaselectionsserveanimportantandvitalroleinhowthestatefunctions.Theyarethepeople's wayofexpressingtheirrighttodemocracyItisthroughtheseelectionsthatweareableselect publicofficialswhowillrepresentourstateandworktowardsmakingitbetter.Theyalsoallow voterstovoteonpotentialchangestotheTexasConstitution.Somethingthatcanhelptoimprove thepoliciesthatwecurrentlyhaveinourstate(ChampagneandHarpham135).

OnetypeofelectioninTexasistheprimaryelection.Thiselectionusesaballotvotingsystemand allowsforthepeopletoselectwhotheywanttheirparty'snomineetobeforthegeneralelection (ChampagneandHarpham135).Theprimaryelectionisusuallythefirst...showmorecontent...

Theseparticulargroupsworktoprotecttheinterestofprofessionals,suchasteachers,accountants, anddoctorsAnexampleistheTexasMedicalAssociation,whichisaprofessionalgroup representingtheinterestofdoctorswithintheTexasgovernment(ChampagneandHarpham166).In thecaseofteachers,professionalinterestsgroupsworktoprotecttheir"...jobsecurity,qualifications ofteachers,healthinsurance,pensions,salaries,andothermatters..."(ChampagneandHarpham 166).Asecondtypeofinterestgroupisthosethataimtospreadawarenessofcivilrights.Inmany casesthesegroupsareworkingtoprotectandensuretherightsofminoritygroupsSomeofthese groupsarewellknownorganizationssuchastheNationalAssociationfortheAdvancementof ColoredPeopleortheNAACPwhichworksforthecivilrightsofAfricanAmericans.Othercivil rightsinterestgroupsincludetheLeagueofUnitedLatinAmericanCitizensandtheMexican AmericanLegalDefenseFund.Bothofwhichworktowardsprotectingandimprovingthelivesof LatinandMexicanAmericans(ChampagneandHarpham166)Organizationslikethesehavemade somesignificantprogressovertheyearswithinformingandchangingthemindsofthepublic.As wellasinfluencingpolicymakersofTexas(ChampagneandHarpham

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Recently,Nepalhascompletedtwophasesoflocalelectionsinsixprovincescovering67districts outof75districts,leavingthe8districtsintheprovince2forthethirdphase.Theelectionresulthas impartedimportant,someexpectedandsomeunexpected,lessonsforNepalipolitics.

First,peoplewereeagertoparticipateintheelectionsTheoverallparticipationlevelreached71 percent.Itwasonlyexpectedinviewofthefactthatlocalelectionswerenotconductedforalmost twodecadesandlocalbodieswererunbybureaucratsthroughoutthatperiod.

Second,therewasacleardisconnectbetweenMadheshipoliticalleaders––noworganizedaround theRashtriyaJanataParty–Nepal––andMadheshivoters.RJPleadershadshowmorecontent FranklinD.Roosevelthassaid,"Inourpersonalambitionsweareindividualists."Itexplainsthe growingdisconnectbetweentheRJPleadersandMadheshivoters.Theleadershavebeenpursuing theirpersonalambitionsthatdonotreflectthedesireofthevotersforbetterschools,hospitals, sanitationfacilitiesandroads.SotheMadheshivotershavesupportedthosepoliticalpartiesthat coulddeliverwhattheywant.

Indeed,identitypoliticshasrelevancefortheoppressedpeople.AstheStandfordEncyclopediaof Philosophysuggests,also"hastroublingimplicationsformodelsoftheself,politicalinclusiveness, andourpossibilitiesforsolidarityandresistance"ItappearsthatithasdawnedontheNepalivoters beforeontheNepalileadersthatthepoliticsofidentityisnotgoodforthecountry.Itisreflectedin thelocalelectionresult

TheCPN(UML),abroad–basedparty,hassecuredthemostimpressiveresultintheelection.The resultsurprisedtheRJPleaderswhohadgoneoutofthewaytocalltheUMLleaderKPOliinsane anddubbedthepartyasanti–Madhesh.Accordingtosomeassessments,theUMLislikelytorepeat itsimpressiveperformanceintheremaining8Teraidistricts,theheartlandofMadheshiuprising since2006,whenthevotewillbeheldinon18

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Peoplehavereliedonmanyformsofmediawhenitcomestopolitics.Thisyear'selectionwasastep inadifferentdirection.Thepaththatthiselectionwascarvingwasonethatwasbeginningtobe heavilytraveled.Itwastheroadthatmanypeoplegainedtheirinformationabouttheelectiontheir relianceofsocialmedia.WiththecandidatesofHillaryClintonfortheDemocraticPartyand DonaldTrumpfortheRepublicanParty,manypeoplewereuncertainwhotheyweregoingtovote forastheirnextCommanderinChief.Someofthepeoplewhowereuncertainwhowouldgettheir voteknewabouttheethicalproblemsthatHillaryhadandtheinexperienceintherealmof governmentforTrumpIwasoneofthemanypeoplewhowereleftuncertainaboutwhowouldget myvote.IwasinitiallygoingtovoteforBenCarsonbecauseIwasafirmsupporterofhisbeliefs andhewasamajorfigureinthemedicalfield.Oncehedroppedout,Ididn'tknowwhattodo.I couldn'treallyvoteagainstmyparty,letalonevoteforamanwithapoortemperament.Ihadto thinkaboutmydecisionandthoughtthatIwouldhavetogowiththelesserofthetwoevils.Other votershadopinionsonissuesthattheycaredaboutOnevoterhadconcernsonhowthecandidates wouldprotectSocialSecurity...showmorecontent...

Withthisyear'selectionbeingasbigasitisalready,themediasomehowfindsawayforthemselves toturnthetables.Forexample,peopleofspecialneedswereupinarmswhenDonaldTrumpmade funofareporterwithadisability.AnotherexampleofthepressgoingafterHillaryiswhenshewas gettingconstantbacklashaboutheremailscandal,Benghaziincidentandthefactthatshewasthe wifeofformerPresidentBillClinton,whowascaughthavinganaffairwithMonica

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ElectionProblems

Eventhoughmyexperiencemaybelimitedinpolitics,Istillunderstandhowgraveofasituationit ishavingeverythingcontrolledbytherepublicans,becausewithtotaldominationofonepartythe democraticsystemisweighedheavilytoonesideEvensomerepublicansagreethatdominance overeverybranchisaproblem.ItisfalsehopeforthePresidentandhiscolleaguestothinkthatjust becausetheywontheelectionthateverypersonwhovotedforthemissupportingtheirconservative waysandplansThisdistortedimagecouldpossiblyhavebeenhumblediftheelectoralsystemwas different.InmanystatesBushonlywonby2%butalloftheelectoralvoteswenttohim,despitethe factthat50%ofvotersshowmorecontent

DuringthetimeinwhichtheElectoralCollegewasestablishedtheworldwasverydifferent.Neither AfricanAmericansnorwomencouldvote.Theframersoftheconstitutionsetupthissystemsothey wouldalwayshavetheirhandinontheelectionEventhosewhoplacedtheactualElectoralCollege votewerenotelectedatthetime.Theframersoftheconstitutionassumedthatthey,themost educatedmen,shouldchoosethepresident.Obviouslythereisaproblemwiththat.Asthetimes changesoshouldthewaythingsaredone.UpdatingtheElectoralCollegeisaprimeexample.

ThisyearColoradotriedtopassanamendmenttothestatesconstitutionthatwouldchangetheway thenineelectoralvotesinColoradowouldbedistributed.Theamendmentpresentstheideaof splittingtheelectoralvotestocorrespondwiththepopularvotes.Criticsofthisarguethateven thoughtheythinktheElectoralCollegeisfine,aswitchsuchasthismightupsettheentireprocess Whilethecriticsofthisprocesshaveapoint,sodothepeopleofColorado.Theentirepointof changingthewaythevotesarecountedistoupsettheElectoralCollege;thisisthefirststepin changingthewayweelectourpresident.

AnotherargumentinfavoroftheElectoralCollegestatesthatinyearspastcertainstateshave changedthewaythevotesarecountedfrombeingtraditionalto"districtplans".Changingtheway thevotesarecountedmayswaythestate

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Acharya4

ShishirAcharyaGovernment2306–71003ProfessorSharifian30October2017RoadtoanElection RunningforaTexasSenateisachallengingjob.Atfirst,youmustwinaprimaryelectionandget nominatedfromapartywhichyouareaffiliatedto.Afterthat,therecomesageneralelectionwhere youmustfightagainsttheotherparty'snomineesInthiscampaign,astrongfinancialsupportis required.Candidatesusetheirhalfofbudgettogainvotersbyboostingmediasupportsandspends otherhalftomakevotersawareabouttheirparty'smotto.Theamountofmoneyvarieswithdifferent candidates1"Theamountacandidatespendspervoteisbasedonthreevariables:howmucha candidatefundraises,howmuchacandidatespends...showmorecontent...

Ishouldcreatefundraisingeventstogodoortodoorofdifferentinterestgroupsandbusiness organizationhavingsimilarpoliticalaffiliation.

MypoliticalaffiliationistowardsDemocraticparty.2Itstandsforthewomenrighttomakea decisionregardingherpregnancyAbortionisapersonaldecisionmadebyawoman,herfamilyand herdoctorsothereshouldnotbeanyinterferenceofapoliticalpartyorgovernment.Myplatform wouldbelegalizationofabortion.3Interestgroupsthatwouldsupportmeinthiscampaignare NARALpro–choiceTexasandPlannedParenthoodTexas.Bothinterestgroupsstandfortheright ofwomentomakeadecisiononherpregnancy.4InterestgroupsthatwouldopposemeareTexas righttolifecommitteeandRepublicanNationalCoalitionforlifePACTheirmottoistodefendthe lifeofinnocenthumanbeing.TheybelievethatourlifeisagiftfromGodandhehasonlythepower totakethelifefromus.

CampaignSLOGANisveryessentialtoreachouttothevotersItincorporatesthesummaryofthe partyprinciple.MySLOGANwouldbe"Letusbringachangetogether".

Everyoneofusshouldstandtogetherfortherightofwomentomakeherchoiceonabortion.There shouldbenoanybarriertostopherinmakingherpersonaldecision.

Newspaper,officialandcelebrityhasahighfollowingofpeople,soitwillbeveryeasyformeto getmymessagetothevotersIwilltrymybesttoawarepeopleaboutmypartygoalsthrough

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Kc2

SabinaKCProfessorSharifianGOVT2306October26,2017

ElectionCampaignAnycandidatewillneedastrongfinancialsupporttorunforofficeinTexas. Sometimes,candidatemaynotwintheelectionevenafterspendingalot.Thatmeanselection victorydoesnotonlydependonspending,itdependsonrightpartyselectionandpopularityor recognition.In2016generalelectionsforTexasSenate,"Juan"Chuy"Hinojosagotelectedwith 131,973votesspending$435,471.91totali.e.$3.30pervote,whereas,BrandonCreightongot electedwith239,640votesspending$93,19421totalie$039pervote"(TheTexasTribune) Accordingtome,acandidatemusthaveinvestmentofminimum$500,000torunforoffice.

AspertheTexasDemocraticshowmorecontent

Thus,Ithinkthisinterestgroupmatchesmyviewsandcansupportmycampaign.TheNAACPisan interestgroupthatmaintainsequalityamongthecitizensbasedondifferentsectors.Itopposesracial discriminationandmakespeopleawareabouttheirrightsandhelpsthemtoachievethemMyideas matchwiththegoalsthatNAACPcarries.Thus,thiscouldbeoneofthegroupthatcansupportmy campaign.Talkingabouttheinterestgroupsthatseemtoopposemycampaign,TexasConservative Coalition(TCC)wouldbeoneofthem.Itholdstraditionalvaluesaboutchangeandsupports conservativevisionforitsrespectivegovernment.Forme,changeisequaltodevelopment.So,this groupistotallyagainstmyperceptionandislikelytoopposemycampaignWhileIwasgoing throughthedescriptionprovidedbyTexasChristianCoalition,Ifoundoutthattheywhollysupport ChristiansinTexas.Theyworktopreservetheirlegalrights,theirtraditionalvaluesandtosupport theminanylegalissuesButitalsoshowsthattheyarebiasedregardingtheirreligionandwould notsupportanyotherreligion.Whereas,mycampaignwouldworkforalltheraces,religionand ethnicgroupwithoutlookingattheirreligiousbackground.Thesearethereasonswhythisinterest groupwouldnotsupportmycampaign.

ThesloganIwouldliketouseis,"EducationandEqualityforEvolution".TheplatformIchoose mainlyfocuseson

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HowImportantWasTheElectionOf1800?

Thepresidentialelectionof1800wasbetweenPresidentJohnAdamsandVice–PresidentThomas Jefferson.Adams,theincumbent,wasrunningforhissecondtermafterbeatingJeffersonfouryears prior.TheimportanceofthiselectionisnotthatJeffersonwinning,butitisAdamslosing.During thistimeperiod,democracywasnotprevalentintheworldasnow,sothepeacefulchangeofpower wasahugesteptoAmericandemocracyandtodemocracyaroundtheworldJamesRogerSharp arguesthattheelectionof1800isthemostimportantelectionbecauseofwhichapresidentwasset byPresidentJohnAdams.Washington,thefirstpresidentofthecountryrantwotermsthenleaving thewhitehousedecidingnottorunforathirdterm,whichwasshowmorecontent

Leadinguptotheelection,tensionswerehighastheissuesoverslaveryandwhichstateswouldbe allowedslaveryinthem.Thisissue,sinceAmerica'sfoundinghadbeensweptundertherug,even beingexcludedfromtheUSconstitution.SincecountrieslikeGreatBritain,France,Canada,and otherwesterncountrieshaveoutlaweditandnewpublicsupporthadagainstslaveryputonthe forefrontoftheAmericanPoliticalsphereTheRepublicansnominatedformerCongressman AbrahamLincoln,ananti–slaveryadvocatefromIllinois.HeranagainstNorthernDemocrat StephenADouglass,SouthernDemocratJohnCBreckinridge,andConstitutionalUnionParty candidateJohnBell.Inaverycloseanddivisiveelection,AbrahamLincolnwonwith180electoral votesandaroundthirty–ninepercentofthepopularvote.ThesouthviewedLincolnandhispolicies asirreconcilableandSouthCarolinasecededtheUnionNextcameotherstateslikeMississippi, Floridathenothers.RobertJCookofLouisianaStateUniversityarguesinhisbook,CivilWar Senator,thattheElectionof1860wasthemostinfluentialinourhistorybecauseofthelonglasting impactonournationwithemancipationproclamation,reconstructionandeffectsonpolitical

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ATIMEMagazinearticlefromOctoberoftheelectionyearhighlightedthemainissuesandhowthe candidateswereproposingtoremedythem.Itwastheseissues,overcrowdedschools,badhighways, "restive"minorities,risingwelfarecosts,andrisingtaxes,increasedcrime,drought,smog,andrace riots,thatformedtheplatformforbothcandidates.(TIME)Astheincumbent,Brownwasinthehot seatfortheseissuesandwasbeingblamedAsReaganwasapoliticalnewbiewithnoadvertising experience,histeamhiredtheMcCann–Ericksonfirm.McCann–EricksonframedReagan'splatform as"commonsenseanswerstoCalifornia'sproblems."(MCKENNA33).

Oftheissuesthatwereofmostconcern,moneyissuesdrewthemostireamongthepeople As...showmorecontent...

Ontheissueracerelations,Reaganwasagainstdiscriminationbutwaspredictedtobenefitfrom "whiteblacklashvotes"morethanBrown.Brownwasindecisiveonissuesconcerningrace,suchas open–housing.Hebegantoworkontheissuebutbackedawayandlatersuggestedtheissuebe bannedfromdiscussioninthecampaignTheLosAngelesWattsraceriotsin1965ledtoacallfor "lawandorder."(MCKENNA5)Theweek–longriotsoccurredinAugustof1965andledtothe deathsofthirty–fourpeople.WhatbeganwithanarrestquicklyturnedintoaracewarwhenAfrican AmericansbegantoventtheirfrustrationoverthepoorconditionsoftheWattsdistrict.Anumberof AfricanAmericansbeganattackingwhitesandwhite–ownedbusinesses,enactingamilliondollars worthofdamageGovernorBrownwasvacationingoutofthecountryatthetimebutreturned home.Hisperceptionandremarksontheriotsquicklyalignedhimwiththeriotersinthepublic's eyes(MCKENNA18).Hiscommentsseemedtojustifytheactionsoftheriotersandpeople"forgot hiscommitmenttolawandorder"(MCKENNA18)ThestudentdemonstrationsattheUSC Berkeleycampusin1966becameacentralfocusoftheReagancampaign.Thedemonstrations sparkedstudentradicalismasacampaignissue.MatthewDallekinTheRightMoment,contends thatBerkeleyandWattsprovided

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MajorIssuesinthe2016ElectionDuringthe2016generalelection,thereweremanyissuestobe discussed.AmongtheseissuesareHealthCare,Immigration,Economics,TheSupremeCourt Appointments,andNationalSecurity.TheseIssuesdefinedwhovotedforthecandidatesandwhat theother'ssupportershadtosayabouttheminhatefulcommentstotheirpeersandonsocialmedia. Inanelectionfilledwithslanderandhatethesearetherealissuesignitingthefireinthesoulsof supportersonbothsidesofthatoldredandblueline.AHUGEissueininthe2016electionwasof course,Immigration.Catchmycheapshot?Immigrationisoneofthemostdivisivetopicsin AmericanPoliticsItisatopicthathasfurtherdividedtheshowmorecontent

Onepromiseshemadeistoestablishthefirsteverfederalgovernmentagencystrictlytohandle immigration.DuringtheracesheconstantlycriticizedTrump'simmigrationideasas "DiscriminatoryandCounterproductive."AnotherBigIssueinthe'16electionwastheSupreme Court.ThepersonwhowontheracewouldgettoimmediatelygettonominateoneJusticetothe seatthathasbeenvacantsincethedeathofJusticeAntoninScaliainFebruary2016Alongwiththe oneinitialJustice,thereare3morecurrentJustices,Ginsburg,Kennedy,andBreyer,whoareator overtheageof79yearsold,veryclosetoretirementage.Withthissaid,thepersonelectedtooffice in2016wouldgettonominateoneJusticeforsureandverypossibleupto4.Ofcourse,thesenate wouldhavetoapprovethePresidentialNominee.However,thePresidentwouldpossiblybeableto swingtheSupremeCourteithermoreliberalormoreconservativeMostlikely,PresidentTrump willpickmoreconservativeJusticestonominate,followingalongwithhisparty'slines.Clinton,on theotherhandwouldhaveselectedveryliberalJusticestonominate.Theimpactthatthefuture Presidenthadoverthesupremecourtin2016drovealotofAmericanstovotethewaytheydid Withamajorityliberal,HillaryClintonappointedsupremecourt,theywouldvotetoacceptseveral highlycontroversialtopicssuchasmarriageequalityand

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Asweknow,2008isthebigyearforeveryoneintheUnitedStates.Thepresidentialelectionin 2008wasthemostraciallydiverseinU.S.history,therewerealmostone–in–fourvotescastbynon–whites.Thepresidentialelectionin2008bringthesurpriseresultforallofthepeopleinU.S.Barack ObamabecamethefirstAfrican–AmericanelectedpresidentoftheUnitedStates,andJoeBiden becamethefirstRomanCatholicelectedvicepresidentIthinktherecordofvoterparticipationin 2008U.Spresidentialelectionistheanomaly.ObamawonadecisivevictoryoverMcCain,Hewas winninginboththeelectoralcollegeandthepopularvote,with365electoralvotestoMcCain's173; TherewasthelargestpercentageofpopularvotefortheDemocratsinceBJohnsonin1964 Obama'swininobtainingamajorparty's...showmorecontent...

Theentitledblackvotersincreased4.9percentage,Itratefrom60.3%in2004to65.2%in2008, almostsameasthevoterturnoutrateofwhiteallowedvotersmanyofblackvotercontributionin 2008wasincreasedbytheparticipationofyoungervotersandblackwomen.Thevoterrateof qualifiedblackfemaleincreased51percentage,therewas637%in2004increasedto688%in 2008.General,amidallethnic,gendergroupsandracial,blackwomenhadthehighestvotein2008 election.Thereweremanyfactorsencouragevoterstoparticipateanddiscouragethemfrom participating.Inthetextbookpage410,"participationinpoliticsmaybeincreasing,inparticularon theInternet."Peoplewentonlinetogetthenewandinformation;theypostcommentsforothers peoplereadItinfluencedthepsychologyofmanypeopleandmadetheywanttoparticipateornot participate.Furthermore,someofthereasonforthepeoplenotvotingwereoutoftown,illnessor disabilitydidnotlikethecandidates,ornot

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Candidate-CenteredElection

A"Candidate–Centered"electioniswhencandidatesfocusonthemselvesandtheissuesthey believeareimportant.Candidate–Centeredelectionstartedwiththelegislativereformsofthe1970s. Atthistimemembersstartedtofocusmoreontheconstituentsandlessonpoliticalparty.Congress membersstartedworkingmoreintheareastheyrepresented.Membersfocusedmoreonprojectsfor theirconstituentsandusingmoreresourcestoenhancethequalityoflife,sotheycouldget reelected.Theprojectsmembersdidwereporkbarrelproject–damsandhighways.Theprojects werepaidwithfederalinstallations,butonlytheCongressmemberconstituentsenjoyedthe benefitsDuring"Candidate–Centered"electionmembersstartedspendingmorein

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Themidtermelectionsof2014broughtameasly36.3percentofalleligibleAmericanvoterstothe polls.Alowofthisproportionhasnotbeenexceededsincethefederalelectionof1942,whichhada turnoutrateof33.9percent.Since1942,voteraccessibilityhasimprovedandwenolongerfind ourselvesamidstWorldWarII(NYTimes).Midtermelectionsgenerallyhavelowerturnoutrates, however,2014isnooutlier,withvoterturnoutintheUnitedStateshavingsteadilydecreasedover recentdecades.The2012electiononlybrought53.6percentofeligiblevoterstothepolls.When comparedtomostdevelopednations,thisnumberistremendouslylow(DeSilver).Whilevoter turnoutisdecreasing,moreandmorevotersareregisteringasIndependentsshowmorecontent Rarelysuccessfulinelectoralvictory,nonetheless,manyaccomplishedtheirgoalsbyservingas proteststatementsandrallyingpointsandbymakinganinfluence(Schneider1200).Minorparties havemajorlyinfluencedpoliticalandsocialchanges.Abolition,childlaborlaws,prohibition, women'ssuffrage,directelectionofsenatemembersandtheminimumwageallhavetheiroriginsin thirdpartymovements(Cramm,NessXIX)Manyoftheseideaswereleftunconsideredor unfavoredbyeitherofthemajorpartiesandhaditnotbeenfortheinfluenceofthirdparties,whois tosaywhatourcountrywouldbetoday.ProfessorFrancesFoxPivenwrites"Thirdpartiescan breathelifeintoAmericanpolitics,stirringthepoliticalenthusiasmofgroupsthatareordinarily marginalizedandignored,andreinvigoratingbeliefindemocracywithboldproposalsforreforms" and"theyaretheagenciesthatbringtolifethedeepreciprocityandinterdependencebetweenvoters andthestateonwhichthedemocraticidearests."(ascitedinNess,XIII)Thiscallstomindthe intendedpurposeofpoliticalpartiesinademocracy.Theyfillthevoidbetweenthegoverned individualsandthegovernmentTheyempowervoters,andamplifythevoicesofthepeopleThat is,ofcourse,iftheyaredoingtheirjobcorrectly,orallowedtodo

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IncumbentsInCongressionalElectionsEssay

Assesstheextenttowhichincumbentshaveanadageoverchallengersincongressionalelections. (25marks)

CongressionalelectionsoccureverytwoyearsanditiswhenmembersiftheHouseof RepresentativesandSenateareelected.Anincumbentiswhenacongressmanisupforre–election butiscurrentlystillholdingofficeWehavelongknownthatUSincumbentsenjoyprofound electoraladvantagesincongressionalelections.Howevercontrarytospeculationsomeevidence showsthattheyareonanequalplayingfieldwithcontesterswhoarenotincumbents.

Oneoftheadvantagesthatincumbentsenjoyincongressionalelectionsisdueto"Porkbarrel politics"thistermisusedwhencongressmenandsenatorsfocusgovernmentfundsintotheir homeshowmorecontent

ForexampleinChicago'sfourthdistrictwhereagrassystripoflandisstuckbetweentwo expresswayswhichconnectthetopandbottomhalvesofadistrictisdesignedtokeepaHispanicin CongressThiscongressionallineprotectsChicago'sHispanicrepresentationinCongressbutitalso ensuresasafeDemocratseatforDemocratrepresentativeLuisVicenteGutierrezwhohasnow servedsince1993.In2014thisformofgerrymanderingknownas"Packing"wassowidespreadthat itwasthoughtjust51of435HouseRepresentativesseatswereactuallycompetitive.Incumbency ratesareover80%inthesenateandover90%intheHouseonaverage.Howeverthesefigures droppedto67%in2010butthisisstillconsiderablyhighshowingincumbentsdohavean

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