WHAT IS A MID TERM ELECTION

It is the election for senators and representatives that takes place between presidential elections. Some senators and some representatives run for re-election at the same time the presidential race is being decided. The terms of senator and representative, however, are staggered so not everyone is up for re-election at the same time. The election taking place next Tuesday, November 7, 2006, is a mid-term election because the president was re-elected just two years ago and is not up for election this year.

Good answer except that the terms of representatives are not staggered; all reps run for election/reelection every 2 years.

Thank you for the correction! You are absolutely right. I apologize for the mistake in my previous response.

In mid-term elections, only some senators and all representatives are up for re-election. Senators serve 6-year terms, and every two years, approximately one-third of the Senate seats are up for election. On the other hand, representatives serve 2-year terms, and all seats in the House of Representatives are up for election during mid-term elections.

To answer your question about what a mid-term election is, it is an election that occurs halfway through a president's term in office, specifically during the fourth year of a president's term. It is called "mid-term" because it is in the middle or halfway point between two consecutive presidential elections.

During mid-term elections, voters have the opportunity to elect new representatives and possibly senators, depending on the cycle of their terms. These elections are significant as they can potentially lead to a change in the balance of power in Congress and impact the ability of the president to pass legislation and implement their policy agenda.

It is important to note that mid-term elections often garner significant attention and voter turnout, as they can reflect public sentiment towards the president's performance and policies. Additionally, mid-term elections provide an opportunity for citizens to hold their elected officials accountable and participate in the democratic process by exercising their right to vote.