midterm election
Congressional off-year vote
A midterm election is a U.S. election held halfway through a president's four-year term.
All House seats and roughly one-third of Senate seats are contested.
Midterms typically see lower turnout than presidential elections and often favor the party not in the White House: The president's party lost seats in the midterms.
Legislative governing body
- houseResidential building
- representativesThose acting for others
- incumbentsCurrent holders of positions
- constituentsParts of a whole
majority · minority · committees · bills · filibuster · quorum · cloture · speaker
Voting document
- pollingSystematic opinion gathering
- precinctAdministrative jurisdiction zone
- voter registrationSigning up for elections
- absenteeOne not in attendance
polling station · voting booth · exit poll · early voting · provisional ballot · turnout · undervote · straight ticket
Gathering for a cause
- debateFormal argument on issues
- primaryChief in importance
- nomineeOne proposed for position
- endorsementFormal expression of support
platform · stump · canvassing · fundraising · advertising · super PAC · war chest · yard sign
One who acts for another
- civic dutyObligation owed to community
- bipartisanshipCooperation between political rivals
- referendumDirect vote on legislation
- federalismDivided governmental authority system
accountability · checks and balances · mandate · approval rating · political climate · public opinion · agenda · gridlock
Redrawing electoral boundaries
- gerrymanderingManipulating electoral boundaries strategically
- swing stateElectorally competitive region
- battlegroundLocation of armed combat
- toss-upOutcome with equal chances
safe seat · red state · blue state · rural vote · voter bloc
Complete shift between systems
- transitionChange from one state
- shake-upSudden structural overhaul
- realignmentAdjusting relative positions
- power shiftTransfer of control
flip · pickup · loss · upset victory · wave · backlash · correction
senate
Legislative governing body
- houseResidential building
- representativesThose acting for others
- incumbentsCurrent holders of positions
constituents · majority · minority · committees · bills · filibuster · quorum · cloture · speaker · whip
ballot
Voting document
- pollingSystematic opinion gathering
- precinctAdministrative jurisdiction zone
- voter registrationSigning up for elections
absentee · polling station · voting booth · exit poll · early voting · provisional ballot · turnout · undervote · straight ticket · split ticket
rally
Gathering for a cause
endorsement · platform · stump · canvassing · fundraising · advertising · super PAC · war chest · yard sign · phone banking
representative
One who acts for another
- civic dutyObligation owed to community
- bipartisanshipCooperation between political rivals
- referendumDirect vote on legislation
federalism · accountability · checks and balances · mandate · approval rating · political climate · public opinion · agenda · gridlock · party control
redistricting
Redrawing electoral boundaries
- gerrymanderingManipulating electoral boundaries strategically
- swing stateElectorally competitive region
- battlegroundLocation of armed combat
toss-up · safe seat · red state · blue state · rural vote · voter bloc
changeover
Complete shift between systems
- transitionChange from one state
- shake-upSudden structural overhaul
- realignmentAdjusting relative positions
power shift · flip · pickup · loss · upset victory · wave · backlash · correction
- electionsballot, ballots, voter registration, candidates, polls
- political ceremoniesinauguration, oath of office, swearing in, State of the Union, inaugural parade
midterm electionpresidential election
Vote for head of state
general election · national referendum · primary election · local election · municipal election
term, election, midterm, terms, termed, terming, elections, elect, elected