Midterm Election

Written By Jonathan Milner

Definition

Midterm elections in the United States are the general elections that are held near the midpoint of a president's four-year term of office, on Election Day on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Midterm elections generally involve voting at the federal, state and local level. Federal midterm elections include voting for every US House seat and approximately 1/3 of US Senate seats. Midterm elections do not involve voting for president. Midterm elections occur in even number years that are not presidential election years. The most recent midterm election was in 2022 and the most recent presidential election was in 2020.

Example

 
 

Questions

  1. When do midterm elections occur?

  2. What federal offices are voted for in midterm elections?

  3. What federal offices never is voted on in midterm elections?

  4. When was the last midterm election?

  5. What is the difference between midterm elections and presidential elections?

  6. What often happens to the president’s party during midterm elections?

  7. If we didn’t have a congress would we still need midterm elections?

  8. Why do you think voting rates tend to decrease in midterm elections relative to presidential elections?

Remember!

Now, let’s commit this term to our long-term memory. On a scrap piece of paper, take 10 or 20 seconds to draw midterm election! Draw with symbols or stick figures if you wish. Nothing fancy. Don’t expect a masterpiece. No one else will see this but you. Look at your drawing. That’s all - now it’s downloaded into your memory. Destroy the piece of paper in a most delightful way.

Further Review

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GoPo Glossary

Jonathan Milner

Civics Maven!

https://www.gopopro.com/
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