The Importance Of Incumbency In The United States

Words: 248
Pages: 1

Sydney Rhoads
Polisci 2 12:30-1:45
Instructor: Johal T/TH
November 10, 2017

Essay The question that I decided to do my essay on is number one. The question asks, why are U.S. congressional incumbents re-elected at high rates? And is this good or bad for democracy. In the book, section 8.4 it says that, “Incumbency is more of an asset to members of congress than it is to presidents.” It also says some facts in the same paragraph and section, “In 2014 more than 95 percent of all representatives who ran for election won. In the Senate, incumbency is also an important advantage, although the retention rates are typically somewhat lower. In 2014, though, the success rate for incumbent senators was almost 95 percent as well.” By this quote it is showing us readers that incumbent was an important factor.
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Incumbency has its own perks including a good record of service, the perks of being a member of congress, and the attraction of more money.” Continuing in the book in the same paragraph it goes on to say, “of course political movement can challenge the incumbency advantage from time to time. The Tea Party movement and other anti-incumbency sentiment led to the defeat of over sixty incumbent legislators who were seeking re-election during the 2010 midterms