American elections differ quite dramatically from those of most other democratic countries. The differences are the result of rules-mainly found in the Constitution but also in federal statutes and judicial decisions-that define offices and tell how elections are to be conducted. Here are the distinguishing features of elections in the United States:
The United States Has More Elections Than Any Other Democratic Country
In some sense, we are "election happy" in the United States. We not only elect the president and members of Congress (senators and representatives), but also, being a federal system, we elect governors, state legislators, and (in most states) judges. In addition, state constitutions allow autonomy for counties, cities, and towns, and all of their top officials are elected by the people. We also elect school boards in most places, and the top positions in special districts (e.g., water or conservation districts). And then there are the many state and local ballot initiatives that add to the length and complexity of the ballot at election time. No other country holds so many elections, covering so many offices and public policy issues.
Elections in the United States Are Separate and Independent from One Another
Not only do we have a multitude of elections, but the election to fill each particular office is separate and independent from the others. In parliamentary systems, one votes for a party, and the party that wins a majority gets to appoint a whole range of other officials. The majority party in the British parliament (the legislative branch), for example, chooses the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers (the executive branch) who run the government. The government, in turn, appoints officials to many posts that are filled by elections here. In the United States, the president and members of Congress are elected independently from one another, as are governors, state legislators, mayors of cities, city councils, and school boards.
Elections Fill Government Positions That Have Fixed Terms of Office
The office of president of the United States is fixed at four years, representatives serve for two years, and senators for six. At the state level, terms of office for all important elected positions are fixed, whether for governors or legislators. The same holds true for county, city, and town elected offices. In parliamentary systems, the government can call an election at any time within a certain number of years (in Britain, it is five years), timing the election to maximize chances for reelection. One implication of fixed elections in the United States is that presidents cannot call for new elections in hopes of changing the party mix in Congress to their advantage. It also means that an unpopular president can stay in office until the next election, since there is no method to remove him other than by impeachment and trial. In parliamentary systems, elections customarily are held when the majority party or majority coalition in parliament loses support among its members, shown in a defeat on a major bill proposed by the government (the prime minister and cabinet) or by losing a "vote of confidence" called by the opposition. In 2005, Chancellor Gerhard Shroder's Social Democratic Party and its Green Party coalition partner lost a confidence vote in the German parliament. New elections brought the CDU and its leader, Angela Merkel, to the Chancellorship, with the Social Democratic Party acting as junior partner in the new coalition government. Sometimes, prime ministers will call elections in order to change the makeup of parliament to their advantage if they think the times are ripe. In the wake of strong public approval of the Israeli pullout from Gaza, for example, Ariel Sharon quit his own Likud Party in late 2005 and called for elections in 2006 in an effort to create a new majority coalition more open than his own party to a peace settlement with the Palestinians.
National (and Statewide) Elections Are Held on a Fixed Date
In 1845, Congress determined that elections for president and members of Congress will occur on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. (the Constitution only requires that national elections be held on the same day throughout the country). States have generally followed suit for election of governors and members of the legislature. One implication, related to the fixed terms of offices described earlier, is that neither presidents nor governors can time elections to their political advantage as we have seen can happen in parliamentary systems. Another implication is that Tuesday elections may cut down on participation. In other democracies, elections are held either on the weekend or on days that are declared a national holiday.
Elections in the United States Are Almost Always of the "First Past the Post" Type, in Which Only a Single Person Is Elected
Winners in most elections in the United States are those who win the most votes-not necessarily a majority-in a particular electoral district. This type of election is often called "first past the post," as in a horse race where the winner is the first past the finish line. This includes Congressional elections and presidential contests for electoral votes in each of the states. We do not have proportional representation in national level races, nor do we have "run-off" elections between the top two vote getters in presidential or congressional elections to ensure a majority victor. In 2004, as a matter of fact, George W. Bush became the first president since the election of his father in 1988 to win a majority of the national popular vote (all elected presidents come to office based on winning a majority in the Electoral College). In France and Finland, by way of contrast, a second election is held if no candidate wins a majority in the first round of voting for the president. This type of election ensures that the person who is elected comes to office with majority support.
