IFES Election Guide - Election Profile for United States

Election Profile:

Overview

Results

Of Interest/Links

Sources

Country: United States
Official Name: United States of America
Election Type: Legislative
Date: November 6, 2012

At stake in this election:

33 seats in the Senate
435 seats in the House of Representatives

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: President Barack OBAMA *
Head of Government: President Barack OBAMA
Assembly: United States has a bicameral Congress consisting of the Senate with 100 seats and the House of Representatives with 435 seats.

* The President is elected by absolute majority in the Electoral College to serve a 4-year term. Each state receives a number of Electoral College votes equal to its two Senators plus the number of seats it has in the House of Representatives, which is based on its population. Washington D.C. receives three electoral votes. A candidate must receive a majority of electoral votes (at least 270) to be elected president.

Description of electoral system:

The President is elected by an electoral college to serve a 4-year term.
In the Senate 100 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 6-year terms*. In the House of Representatives 435 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 2-year terms.

* One-third of Senate seats are up for election every two years.

Main parties in the electoral race:

Party: Democratic Party
Leader: Nancy PELOSI
Seats won in last Senate election: 59
Seats won in last House of Representatives election: 193
Party: Republican Party
Leader: Eric CANTOR
Seats won in last Senate election: 41
Seats won in last House of Representatives election: 242