POLS 206 Lecture 14 Outline of Previous Lecture o 9 2 Organizing a Campaign o 9 3 Money and Campaigning o 9 4 Impact of Campaigns o 9 5 Deciding Whether to Vote Who Votes Outline of Current Lecture Ch 11 Congress o 11 1 Members o 11 2 Who wins elections Advantages of Incumbency Lecture Ch 11 Congress the center of policy making o 11 1 Members Not a glamorous job but there are perks Power 174 000 annual salary Generous retirement and health benefits Constitutional requirements House 25 citizen for 7 years Senate 30 citizen for 9 years Reside in state 435 representatives 100 senators Demographics Descriptive vs substantive representation Descriptive How much do they look like their constituents Do they No Substantive Representation of the interest of groups Do they Yes o 11 2 Who wins elections Incumbents Over 90 win reelection Senators do not have it as easy 80 85 Incumbents perceive themselves as vulnerable Hence fundraising and campaigning Advantages of Incumbency Advertising Constituent contact Credit claiming Casework Pork barrel projects Position taking Weak opponents Campaign spending PACs give primarily to incumbents Usually outspend competitor 3 or 4 to 1 Role of Party Identification Parties and districts Drawn for one party dominance Defeating Incumbents Challengers are na ve But sometimes incumbents are vulnerable Redistricting Public mood Open Seats and Stability and Change Vacant Seat no incumbent running Most turnover occurs here Stability from incumbency Development of expertise Term limits
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