U.S. congress: take your seats!
The race for the White House isn’t the only game in town. There’s also the race for the Capitol. While that might not sound especially exciting, this year’s congressional elections could prove crucial. Every two years, one-third of the 100 U.S. Senate seats and all 435 U.S. House of Representatives seats are up for reelection. Currently, the Senate is made up of 51 Republicans, 48 Democrats, and one Independent. The House is made up of 229 Republicans, 205 Democrats, and one Independent. The incoming president will have to work closely with Congress to govern the nation effectively. So it stands to reason that each candidate would like his party to hold a majority of the seats in the House and the Senate.
Study the map below and answer the questions that follow. The number of House seats per state is shown with that state’s name. Look at the map key for Senate information. An open seat is a seat with no incumbent running for reelection.
1. Voters in how many states will vote for a senator in the 2004 election? —
2. How many total Republican seats are up for reelection in 2004? —
3. How many total Democratic seats are up for reelection in 2004? —
4. How many seats do the Democrats need to win in order to gain control of the Senate? —
5. Which state has the most state representatives? —
6. If House Democrats kept all their seats, name a state the Democratic Party could sweep to become the House majority. —
7. Which party has more open Senate seats? —
8. Which region has the most open Democratic seats in the Senate? —
9. How many representatives does your state have? —
10. Is there a Senate seat up for reelection in your state? If so, is it currently held by a Republican or a Democrat? —
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Answers
1. 34, 2. 15, 3. 19, 4. 3, 5. Calif., 6. any state with 13 or more representatives, 7. Democratic, 8. southeast, 9. Answers will vary. 10. Answers will vary.
Senate Races 2004
Open Open
Republican Democratic Republican Democratic
Seats Seats Seats Seats
Idaho 2 Wash. 9 Colo. 7 La. 7
Utah 3 Ore. 5 Okla. 5 N.C. 13
Az. 8 Calif. 53 Ill. 19 S.C. 6
Alaska 1 Nev. 3 Ga. 13
Kan. 4 N.D. 1 Fla. 25
Iowa 5 S.D. 1
Mo. 9 Hawaii 2
Ohio 18 Wis. 4
Ky. 6 Ark. 4
Ala. 7 Ind. 9
Pa. 19 Vt. 1
Md. 8 N.Y. 29
N.H. 2 Conn. 5
No
Seats
Mont. 1
Wyo. 1
N.M. 3
Neb. 3
Texas 32
Minn. 8
Mich. 15
Tenn. 9
Miss. 4
W. Va. 3
Va. 11
Maine 2
Mass. 10
N.J. 13
COPYRIGHT 2004 Weekly Reader Corp.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group
