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I'm no expert on the American political system, but my classes do "compare and contrast" the workings of various democracies and try and see which systems work "best" - if there is such a thing.
This question came up in our discussion about the upcoming American "mid-term" elections.
The question was "Which districts have elections that occur between the ones that happen at the same time as the
Presidential elections?" "How did this selection come about?"
The next questions were "How does this effect the electoral results in those districts?" "Do they usually support the President's party, or do they usually oppose his party - historically speaking."
In other words, how do mid-term elections tend to differ from the ones that occur with the Presidential elections?
Thanks in advance to anyone who'll takes a stab at this.
Brian
Vernon BC Canada
"Nothing in life - can compare to seeing smiles on your children's faces."
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Mid terms function as a report card for the governing party. Occasionally, as in 1994, the governing party loses control of the legislature.
Normally, however, if the President's party loses ground in the midterms, the president adjusts his priorities in order to get an "A" on the final exam (re-election).
Did that answer the questions?
BMT
"The Church can and should help modern society by tirelessly insisting that the work of women in the home be recognized and respected by all in its irreplaceable value." Apostolic Exhortation On The Family, Pope John Paul II
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The House Seats are on two-year terms, the President on a four-year term, and the Senate on 6-year terms. So every two years all House members and one third of Senate members stand for election. Those years when the President is not running are referred to as the mid term years. So there is no "choosing" as to which districts are up for election.
I will let the political science wonks address the question of whether mid-terms tend historically to support the party in the White House. One thing I do know is that it is relatively rare to have the House, the Senate, and the White House controlled by the same party.
Last edited by utah708; 09/27/06.
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Thanks,
You really helped! Now I understand - so, my students will soon know too. Sounds like a pretty good system, all things considered.
Brian
Vernon BC Canada
"Nothing in life - can compare to seeing smiles on your children's faces."
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One thing I do know is that it is relatively rare to have the House, the Senate, and the White House controlled by the same party. And the Supreme Court, don't forget. (Yes, I know, SCJs aren't affiliated with political parties. Bullcrap. Of course they are.) Back in 1994, the Republicans told us, "We can't do anything unless we control the Senate too." We said, "Why not? The Democrats do!" But we gave 'em the Senate anyway. Then they said, "We can't do anything unless we control the Presidency too!" We said, "Why not? The Democrats do!" But we gave 'em the Presidency anyway. Then they said, "We can't do anything unless we control the Supreme Court too!" We said, "Why not? The Democrats do!" But we gave 'em the Supreme Court anyway. Then they said, "We can't do anything unless we control the media too!" We said, "Why not? The Democrats do!" But we gave 'em their own cable TV news channel and the top three talk radio shows in the country anyway. [Punch line left as an exercise for the reader]
"But whether the Constitution really be one thing, or another, this much is certain--that it has either authorized such a government as we have had, or has been powerless to prevent it. In either case, it is unfit to exist." --Lysander Spooner, 1867
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Barak, that makes me laugh out loud.
In Canada, whenever a conservative right-of-center politician has problems - it's always blamed on the "left-wing media" - which of course - has all those "liberal" reporters. But, whenever a left-of-center politician has problems - it's always blamed on the "corporate-controlled media" - in which, of course - all the reporters have to kow-tow to their big-business owner's private interests.
Brian
Vernon BC Canada
"Nothing in life - can compare to seeing smiles on your children's faces."
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Campfire 'Bwana
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And the Supreme Court, don't forget.
(Yes, I know, SCJs aren't affiliated with political parties. Bullcrap. Of course they are.)
Back in 1994, the Republicans told us, "We can't do anything unless we control the Senate too." We said, "Why not? The Democrats do!" But we gave 'em the Senate anyway.
Then they said, "We can't do anything unless we control the Presidency too!" We said, "Why not? The Democrats do!" But we gave 'em the Presidency anyway.
Then they said, "We can't do anything unless we control the Supreme Court too!" We said, "Why not? The Democrats do!" But we gave 'em the Supreme Court anyway.
Then they said, "We can't do anything unless we control the media too!" We said, "Why not? The Democrats do!" But we gave 'em their own cable TV news channel and the top three talk radio shows in the country anyway.
Maybe you better take BC's course. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
We may know the time Ben Carson lied, but does anyone know the time Hillary Clinton told the truth?
Immersing oneself in progressive lieberalism is no different than bathing in the sewage of Hell.
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SOOO, the logical deduction is that all politicians are LIARS, geezuzmurphee, THAT is a frikken REVELATION!!!!
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Campfire Kahuna
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One thing I do know is that it is relatively rare to have the House, the Senate, and the White House controlled by the same party. And the Supreme Court, don't forget. (Yes, I know, SCJs aren't affiliated with political parties. Bullcrap. Of course they are.) Back in 1994, the Republicans told us, "We can't do anything unless we control the Senate too." We said, "Why not? The Democrats do!" But we gave 'em the Senate anyway. Then they said, "We can't do anything unless we control the Presidency too!" We said, "Why not? The Democrats do!" But we gave 'em the Presidency anyway. Then they said, "We can't do anything unless we control the Supreme Court too!" We said, "Why not? The Democrats do!" But we gave 'em the Supreme Court anyway. Then they said, "We can't do anything unless we control the media too!" We said, "Why not? The Democrats do!" But we gave 'em their own cable TV news channel and the top three talk radio shows in the country anyway. [Punch line left as an exercise for the reader] ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Barak, my learned friend; you need to relax and save your energy for your Cairos function this weekend. You haven't got through your t-shirt display as of yet. If I'm off by a weekend--forgive me, I was out of town. If it's this weekend, good luck with all of it. PS--Quit trying to frighten BCBRIAN'S kids!!!
The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.
William Arthur Ward
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This is one of the most entertaining political (election) discussions I've seen in a while!
Have to agree with everyone - BCBrian, the way we can tell when our politicans are lying is to watch their mouths. If it moves, they're lying!!! Probably the same in your part of the world.
This COULD be a very enlightening election this year. As far as I'm concerned, both parties have a lot of work to do.
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Campfire Kahuna
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One thing I do know is that it is relatively rare to have the House, the Senate, and the White House controlled by the same party.
There's a problem here with terminology. The republicans have the MAJORITY in all three, but they sure don't CONTROL much, particularly in the senate. Dick
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Majority is only good when they all can agree, thats why they have to stand for reelection, even the entrenched senitors who have out lived the times. Or drank themselves into oblivion.
A great man once said, you can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time. In US politics it is fool as many gullible people as much of the time as you can. Then lie about it.
Declaration of Independance, in ENGLISH
U.S. Constitution, in ENGLISH
U.S. Bill of Rights, in ENGLISH
If you cannot or don't want to learn ENGLISH, go back to the third world cesspool you came from
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Son of a liberal: " What did you do in the War On Terror, Daddy?"
Liberal father: " I fought the Americans, along with all the other liberals."
MOLON LABE
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One thing I do know is that it is relatively rare to have the House, the Senate, and the White House controlled by the same party. And the Supreme Court, don't forget. Justices Kennedy and Souter are ostensibly Republicans, but I don't think it can be credibly stated that they are under the control of the party. Supreme Court Justices do tend to come up through the ranks of political party clubs and party machines. A good many have been political hacks of the first order.
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive." - C.S. Lewis
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quote: But we gave 'em their own cable TV news channel and the top three talk radio shows in the country anyway. end quote
i'm thinking that's the result of market forces, NOT one party or another ...
abiding in Him,
><>fish30ought6<><
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One thing I do know is that it is relatively rare to have the House, the Senate, and the White House controlled by the same party.
There's a problem here with terminology. The republicans have the MAJORITY in all three, but they sure don't CONTROL much, particularly in the senate. Dick Ah, but they do! They get to pick the committee heads, and that pretty much controls the agenda - if they care to exercise that control. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
Lunatic fringe....we all know you're out there.
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"Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for."
- Will Rogers
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I knew I had to ask him about the mysteries of life, he spit between his boots and he replied:
"it's faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, and more money"
Dan
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