AP®︎ U.S. Government & Politics: Topic 5.9 Flashcards
Master key terms and definitions for Topic 5.9 of AP U.S. Government & Politics – Congressional Elections to help you prep for quizzes and the AP exam.
House vs. Senate Election Cycles
All 435 district-based House seats are elected every two years; senators are elected statewide to six-year staggered terms, with about one-third elected every two years
All 435 district-based House seats are elected every two years; senators are elected statewide to six-year staggered terms, with about one-third elected every two years
The 1913 amendment establishing direct popular election of senators instead of selection by state legislatures
A state-administered election in which voters choose a political party’s nominee for the general election
A primary in which voters need not be registered with a party in advance and may choose one party’s nomination contest in which to vote
A primary in which only voters registered with a political party may vote in that party’s nomination contest
A party-run meeting where eligible members gather at a designated time and place to discuss and select candidates under party rules
An election in which no incumbent is running, usually making the contest more competitive because no candidate has the full incumbency advantage
A seat where one party has such a durable advantage that its nominee is highly likely to win, often making that party’s primary the decisive contest
The election in which the broader electorate chooses the officeholder from party nominees and qualifying independent or third-party candidates
An electoral system in which one candidate wins the constituency’s single seat, usually by receiving more votes than any opponent even without an absolute majority
A congressional election held when the presidency is also on the ballot, ordinarily producing higher turnout and possible presidential coattail effects
A congressional election halfway through a president’s term, with no presidential race, all House seats, and about one-third of Senate seats on the ballot
The boost same-party congressional candidates receive when a popular presidential candidate attracts and mobilizes supportive voters
The strong but not absolute tendency for the sitting president’s party to lose congressional seats in a midterm election
A nationally driven election in which one party gains many seats across numerous constituencies, sometimes defeating normally secure incumbents
The electoral benefits current officeholders possess when seeking reelection, including visibility, constituent service, official communication, fundraising networks, and established organization
Official assistance members and their staffs provide constituents dealing with federal agencies, which can build personal support for the incumbent
The privilege allowing members of Congress to send certain official mail to constituents without personally paying ordinary postage
An incumbent’s effort to gain electoral support by emphasizing legislation, programs, projects, or services that benefit the state or district
