Warm Up

• Review word “incumbent” (unit 3 vocabulary)

Warm Up• “Congressional approval rating has hit its lowest mark in a

midterm election year in at least 40 years, a new poll found. According to a Gallup poll on Monday, 16 percent of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing — the lowest rating in a midterm year since the firm began tracking the question in 1974. That’s down from 21 percent in 2010 and a high-water mark of 50 percent in 2002.”

• Respond:1. What percentage of Americans approve of Congress?2. Based on the current approval rating, do you predict incumbents

won or lost in this election?• Go to kahoot.it (bookmark this website!). Game pin: __• https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/38a3b45d-5900-464c-979c-40fad64

22656

SWBAT explain the incumbency paradox.

1. Warm Up: 10 minutes2. Elections 2014 Results: 10 minutes3. Congressional Election Notes: 30 minutes4. Incumbency Analysis: 20 minutes5. Kahoot Quiz: 15 minutes6. Exit Slip: 10 minutes7. Media Standard Exit Slip Return/Review: 15

minutes

Election Results 2014• Governor: Jerry Brown, D: 58.7% vs Neel Kashkari, R: 41.3%• Superintendent of Public Instruction:

Tom Torlakson, D: 52.1% vs Marshall Tuck, D: 47.9%• Proposition 1: Water Bond - Yes: 66.8% vs No: 33.2%• Proposition 2: Rainy Day Fund - Yes: 68.7% vs No: 31.3%• Proposition 45: Insurance Rates - Yes: 40.2% vs No: 59.8%• Proposition 46: Medical Malpractice Limits - Yes: 32.9% vs No: 67.1%• Proposition 47:

Reduced Penalties for Some Crimes - Yes: 58.5% vs No: 41.5%• Proposition 48: Indian Gaming Casino- Yes: 39.1% vs No: 60.9%• Sheriff- Jim McDonnell: 74.83% vs Paul Tanaka: 25.17%• Assessor- John Morris: 49.48% vs Jeffrey Prang: 50.52%• Measure P: Parks - Yes: 62.04% vs No: 37.96%

• Bicameral Congress:– 2 Chambers/Sections of CongressHouse of Representatives AND Senate

Bicameral Congress

House of Representatives• 435 members• Two-year terms

Senate• 100 members• Six-year terms

How often do incumbents win?Incumbents Re-Elected Incumbents Lost

1. AR2. CO3. IA4. MT5. NC

Incumbents won 81%despite the fact that only 16% of Americans approve of the job they’re doing!

Incumbency Paradox

• Congressional incumbents are most likely to win elections, although Americans generally disapprove of Congress

Reasons Why Incumbent Win – pgs. 365-367 + Supplement

1. Constituent service2. Franking privilege3. Gerrymandering4. Money5. Visibility

1. Constituent Service

• Constituent = voter• Incumbents win by providing “pork” –projects

that bring $/jobs to the state and local businesses, etc

• Political favors• Casework for constituents

2. Franking Privilege

• Members of Congress have the right to send letters to their voters; the government pays for it with tax money

• It’s expanding: emails and phone calls

3. Gerrymandering

• When incumbents manipulate boundaries on a map to favor themselves or their party

• Helps BOTH political parties

4. Money• PACS usually contribute more $ to incumbents

(play it safe/ “the devil you know”)• Incumbents outspend challengers 2 to 1

5. Visibility• Incumbents get news coverage = free media! • Invitations to fundraisers, ground-breaking

ceremonies, other public events

Incumbency Analysis

1. To find your representative Go to govtrack.us & set district

2. Write down names of representatives3. Go to their official website4. Look for examples of how they use incumbency

to their advantage/to get votes

Examples of Incumbency Advantage

• Casework –help you dealing with federal agencies

• Resources for small business owners – loans, contracts

• Helps Armenian orphans• Sponsors high school art contests • Free tax preparation • Earthquake readiness plans

Effects of the incumbency advantage

Pros Cons

• Atmosphere remains the same• Discourages radical change• Leads to stability• Congress keeps a large amount of experience leaders• Difficult to reform campaign finance laws because

congresspeople don’t want to limit fundraising

Kahoot!

• Use your notes• Wait to see the answer options ON THE

PROJECTOR before voting• Excuse lag/program malfunctions• Be a good sport

• https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/ede44d4c-32f4-4c6d-a9f0-b40753f29856

Explain the incumbency paradox (what it is, why it happens, and its effects)

• Gerrymandering• Franking• Constituent service• Money• Visibility