2006 U.S. Midterm Elections
U.S. Midterm Elections
General Election Information
General elections in the United States are comprised of more than just the Presidential elections every four years. Every two years, Americans elect the entire House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate. Such elections, which occur between Presidential elections, are referred to as "midterm elections.” The 2006 midterm elections will be held on Tuesday, November 7. Midterm elections can have a significant impact on the distribution of political power in the nation and on the making of public policy. In these races, the two major political parties (Republican and Democrat) each seek to gain the majority of seats in both houses of Congress so that they can more easily advance their legislative agendas. Because each of the three branches of the American government—executive, legislative, and judicial—is an equal force in the U.S. system of "checks and balances," whether the Republicans or Democrats control the houses of Congress is of vital importance.
A key issue in the 2006 midterm elections is whether the Republicans can keep their majority in the two houses of Congress (that is, in the Senate and in the House of Representatives). All 435 seats in the House are up for grabs, and in order to win control, Democrats must gain at least 15 seats. A third of the Senate's 100 seats are being contested; in order to gain control there, Democrats must win six seats more than they currently hold. In addition to these elections, there are also 36 states holding their own gubernatorial elections. Though Congressmen/women and Governors hold very different positions, the electoral process is, in general, similar for both. In both cases, the elections are widely considered to be a referendum on the success of the political party currently in power; often, they can offer insights to the next Presidential election as well.
Midterm Election Structure
Federal Government - Legislative Branch: The U.S. Congress
United States House of Representatives
Voters in the United States will elect members of the 110th United States Congress, including all 440 members of the United States House of Representatives (435 voting members and 5 non-voting delegates). The entire House of Representatives, in which the size of a state's delegation is determined by its population, is up for election every two years. The total number of Representatives is currently fixed at 435 by the Reapportionment Act of 1929, though Congress has the authority to change that number. Each Representative serves for a two-year term and may be re-elected an unlimited number of times. The presiding officer of the House is known as the Speaker, and is elected by the members. The House is generally considered a more partisan chamber than the Senate.
United States Senate
In the 2006 midterm elections, 33 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate are contested. The term of office for those elected in 2006 will be from January 3, 2007 until January 3, 2013. Those Senators who were elected in 2000 will be seeking reelection or retiring in 2006. Representation in the Senate is equal for all states - each has two senators, elected for six-year terms; only a third of its members are up for election in any two-year election cycle. The Vice President of the United States holds the tie-breaking vote in Senate deliberations; however, a vote by the Vice President rarely becomes necessary. The Senate is generally considered to have greater prestige than the House since Senators serve longer terms in a smaller body and (in most cases) represent larger constituencies than Representatives.
State Government
Governors
In 2006, gubernatorial elections will be held in 36 states, with 22 of the seats held by Republican incumbents and 14 by Democrats. Elections in these 36 states will coincide with the mid-term elections of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
In the United States, in addition to the federal government, there are 50 state governments, plus the government of the District of Columbia, and further down the ladder are still smaller units that govern counties, cities, towns, and villages. In general, matters that lie entirely within state borders are the exclusive concern of state governments. These include internal communications; regulations relating to property, industry, business, and public utilities; the state criminal code; and working conditions within the state. Within this context, the federal government requires that state governments must be democratic in form and that they adopt no laws that contradict or violate the federal Constitution or the laws and treaties of the United States.
Like the national government, state governments have three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial; these are roughly equivalent in function and scope to their national counterparts. The chief executive of a state is the governor, elected by popular vote, typically for a four-year term (although in a few states the term is two years). The constitutions of the various states differ in some details but generally follow a pattern similar to that of the federal Constitution, including a statement of the rights of the people and a plan for organizing the government.
Local Elections
Numerous other elections for local, city, and county public offices will also be held. These offices might include county administrators, city mayor, city council, and even sheriff.
U.S. Midterm Election Resources
General Information
http://usinfo.state.gov/dhr/democracy/elections.html.
The U.S. Department of State’s International Information Programs (IIP) section has a new webpage dedicated to coverage of the November elections. IIP will add articles on new election developments and other pertinent materials from time to time. This website is a good source for unbiased, non-partisan general information.
Mainstream Media on the 2006 Elections
Disclaimer: The views and political statements contained in the websites listed below are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by or representative of the Department of State or U.S. Government policies.
Washington Post - Campaign 2006 and 2008 presidential election coverage
2006 Senate Elections News - U.S. Politics Today
2006 Governor Elections News - U.S. Politics Today
CNN Special Section: America Votes 2006
Midterm Election BLOGS from the Public and Various Organizations
FactCheck.org - Annenberg Political Fact Check
Truthdig: Drilling Beneath the Headlines
Watchblog - Political News, Opinion and Commentary
Election Projection - 2006 Edition
The Republican Party - Elections Blog
The Democratic Party – Elections Blog
Cloakroom - 2006 Midterm Elections Discussions - Political Wire
Americablog - because a great nation deserves the truth
Conservative Blogger
U.S. Midterm Election Polls 2006
Words of Caution on Polls
20 Questions A Journalist Should Ask About Polls - NCPP
General Info on Election Polls
Polling Report - Election 2006
2006 Election - Gallup Poll on 2006 Elections - Hear The Issues
2006 Election - Senatorial Approval (100 Senators) - Hear The Issues
2006 Election - Gubernatorial Approval (50 States) - Hear The Issues
IPSOS News & Polls
The Pew Charitable Trusts - Public Opinion and Polls
For additional detailed information, please contact:
U.S. Consulate General Shanghai Public Affairs Section
Information Resource Center
Tel: 6279-7662
E-mail: shanghaiirc@state.gov
Web sites:
http://shanghai.usembassy-china.org.cn (English language)
http://shanghai-ch.usembassy-china.org.cn (Chinese language)
News From Washington
Election
Hot Topics
