congressional reelection
...nd or wants are. This is especially true in races within districts that have historically had close margins and more so for new representatives in their first or second term. Incumbency plays a huge role in congress members behavior. As a congress member serves more time in office it cements them in office making reelection easier. According to Richard Fenno the three goals all members of congress share are, “reelection, influence within the house, and good public policy”(Davidson 207). These three goals effect members’ reelection depending on the district and what its needs are and how well the member communicates to their district what they have accomplished. Newer members must focus on reelection and therefore strive to provide services and money for the district. Concrete things that the member can say this is what I provided for you and you need it so reelect me. Members more established having already proven themselves can focus on influence within the house. An evolution in some way. I have already proven my self now I can gain power so their constituents can get bigger and better things as well as having someone who is respected and gets things done in office. Thirdly the goal of good public policy may be the last step in locking in more respect or idea the of a statesmen Some members never go past the first stage because that is what the district wants. Many districts and or congress members are content receiving and providing the benefits that a congress member can provide. All these stages are also affected by many external factors such as international factors, the economy, and domestic issues to name a few. Incumbent candidates have a huge advantage over their challengers. “Since World War II, on average 92 percent of all incumbent representatives and 78 percent of incumbent senators running for reelection have been returned to office.”(Davidson 64) There are four major sources of incumbent advantage. The first is institutional meaning the way congress is set up. Free mail through franking privileges, free long distance through watts lines, and salary and budget which provide a staff and travel which constitute over one million a year. These factors coupled with news coverage while in office make a congress member much more visible than most opponents. Changes in voter preferences also adds votes in the incumbents favor. Party line voting has decreased and voters focus more on the candidate rather than the party. Incumbents explanation of what they are doing in congress adds strength to their reelection. Congress members create needs through benefits and services. Their record as an elected official provides a base for constituents that lets them know that the congress member is working for them and has done so successfully. Why fix it if it isn’t broken. Congress members have also isolated themselves from partisanship. By trying to stay closer to the middle they gain opposing party votes by not being in the extreme. They can appeal to more people and have a larger base causing larger votes in their favor at the polls. If I was the majority leader in 2004, I would focus on the strengths that the Bush administration has accomplished and continues to strive for. The most promenit of the administrations accomplishments being the war on terror. I would also shy away from the issue of gay marriage. By focusing on the war on terror you are focusing on what this administrations greatest challenge was. 9/11 was a devastating blow to America and most of the publicity and effort in the past three years has revolved around that. The republican party had the opportunity to enact its ideas in that time of crisis and they should capitalize on it. That issue is an excellent way to represent Dodds social structure and social learning. It exemplifies Dodd’s social structure by rectifying a problem not necessarily directly affecting Americans. The war on terror doesn’t satisfy immediate needs such as food or shelter. The republicans have led us out of a disaster... kind of. The war in Iraq is also an example of social learning. The republican party dealt with a huge crisis. The party can also focus on the fact that the job is not done and problems of this magnitude take time to resolve. By focusing on the fact that the war on terror is not finished, the party can start to chan...