What are the terms for members of the House and Senate?
Representatives in the House serve two-year terms. Senators serve six-year terms. Every two years, one-third of the Senate is up for election. These terms are mandated by the U.S. Constitution. There are no term limits in the House and Senate; congressional representatives can run for office as many times as they qualify to do so. What is a “midterm election”? A “midterm election” is one that takes place halfway within the term of a chief executive. For example, the national elections this November are taking place midway through George W. Bush’s term as president. What offices are typically up for bid during midterm elections? All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are up for election, as well as one-third of the Senate (this year, 34 seats are up for grabs) and some governors’ seats (36 states have gubernatorial elections this November). In addition, many states hold important statewide and local elections in the midterm. Why is the Senate the most contested electoral bat
