American Politics Today - Essentials (3rd Ed)

270 CHAPTER 9|CONGRESS

CONSTITUENCY SERVICE

Another thing incumbents do to get re-elected is “work their districts,” taking

every opportunity to meet with constituents, listen to their concerns, and perform

casework (helping constituents interact with government programs or agencies).

High levels of constituency service may help explain why some incumbents have

become electorally secure.

Members of Congress love doing constituency service because it is an easy way

to make voters happy. If a member can help a constituent solve a problem, that per-

son will be more likely to support the member in the future.^14 Many voters might

give the incumbent some credit simply for being willing to listen. Therefore, most

members devote a signifi cant portion of their staff to constituency service, pub-

lish newsletters that tout their good deeds on behalf of constituents, and solicit

citizens’ requests for help through their newsletters and websites.

This combination of factors gives incumbents substantial advantages over

candidates who might run against them. By virtue of their position they can help

constituents who have problems with an agency or program. They attract media

attention because of their actions in offi ce. And they use their offi cial position as a

1948 1954 1960 1966 1972 1978 1984 1990 1996 2002 20082012

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100%

Percent defeated

Percent defeated

plus retirements

*Percentage for the Senate is of those up for re-election.

Source: Compiled from Center for Responsive Politics, Reelection Rates over the Years, http://www.opensecrets

.org/bigpicture/reelect.php; and Norman J. Ornstein, Thomas E. Mann, and Michael J. Malbin, Vital Statistics

on Congress: 1999–2000 (Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2000), pp. 60–63; 2010 and 2012 percentages calculated

from election results, http://elections.nytimes.com (accessed 11/10/12).

SENATE INCUMBENCY RE-ELECTION RATES, 1948–2012*

Incumbency re-election rates are noticeably more volatile in the Senate than in the

House. What implications does this have for the Founders’ belief that the Senate

should be more insulated from popular control than the House? Does the Senate’s six-

year term help provide that insulation?

FIGURE » 9.4B