GOV 310L Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Incumbent, Diminishing Returns, Majority Minority
Document Summary
Nominees must win at most one primary election in their state. Filing deadline - latest date on which a candidate who wishes to be on a primary ballot may file official documents with and or pay required fees to state election officials. Open seat - house or senate race with no incumbent. Usually a hard primary, as there is no incumbent. Professional legislature - legislature whose members serve full time and for long periods. Redistricting - drawing new boundaries of congressional districts, usually after the decennial census. Equal population refers to residents not voters. Gerrymandering - drawing the boundary lines of congressional districts for partisanship or other political advantage. In most states, the legislature draws the maps. The house is collectively responsible for the nation, while the president is individually responsible. House elections are not equal, as challengers cannot raise enough money to seriously contest an incumbent and outside groups do not lend their support to a lost cause.
