Often, the campaign process reveals the fault within America’s electoral system, which is now relevant in light of the 2016 presidential election. The political leaders in America, (specifically congressmen) often use tactics that marginalize minority groups and encourage undue voter representation in order to secure their political position and increase their party’s power. Political leaders using tactic such as these are difficult to remove from power, despite public opinion. The elections and campaigns in America do not provide a good system for choosing the best political leaders, nor should they be admired and emulated, because the political leaders are often able to manipulate the elections using tactics such as gerrymandering.
The process …show more content…
Interestingly enough, the majority of congressmen are incumbents, the person already holding office. Incumbency helps politicians stay in office once they are elected. Within the House of Representatives, the percentage of incumbents winning re-elections has been over eighty for the past fifty years. A race without an incumbent is a rarity and often referred to as an open seat election because of the lack of the incumbency advantage. The lack of opposition provides less incentive for incumbents to conform to the ideology of their constituents, even when these ideas have the majority support from the electorate. Incumbents are repeatedly elected, rarely changing opinion and leaving little room for innovative thinking and …show more content…
They are able to access campaign finance and government resources that can indirectly boost their campaign, have the support of the establishment and fellow constituents during re-elections, and access to free media. However, incumbents are more likely to be re-elected due to gerrymandering because they are able to manipulate congressional districts in a way that will ensure voter support. Likewise, incumbents are more likely to belong to the majority party orchestrating a gerrymander, and again are very likely to be re-elected. If faced with opposition from a particular district or minority, incumbents have the power to manipulate districts to ensure they do not receive representation. With the congressional districts becoming increasingly stretched out, new candidates lack the resources to successfully campaign, resources that are otherwise limitless to
The process …show more content…
Interestingly enough, the majority of congressmen are incumbents, the person already holding office. Incumbency helps politicians stay in office once they are elected. Within the House of Representatives, the percentage of incumbents winning re-elections has been over eighty for the past fifty years. A race without an incumbent is a rarity and often referred to as an open seat election because of the lack of the incumbency advantage. The lack of opposition provides less incentive for incumbents to conform to the ideology of their constituents, even when these ideas have the majority support from the electorate. Incumbents are repeatedly elected, rarely changing opinion and leaving little room for innovative thinking and …show more content…
They are able to access campaign finance and government resources that can indirectly boost their campaign, have the support of the establishment and fellow constituents during re-elections, and access to free media. However, incumbents are more likely to be re-elected due to gerrymandering because they are able to manipulate congressional districts in a way that will ensure voter support. Likewise, incumbents are more likely to belong to the majority party orchestrating a gerrymander, and again are very likely to be re-elected. If faced with opposition from a particular district or minority, incumbents have the power to manipulate districts to ensure they do not receive representation. With the congressional districts becoming increasingly stretched out, new candidates lack the resources to successfully campaign, resources that are otherwise limitless to