The Paradox of Congressional Approval Ratings and Re-Election Rates

📊 Congress has consistently low approval ratings, but members are consistently re-elected at high rates.

📉 Congressional job approval is usually around 30%, reaching a low point in 2013.

🗳️ 60-90% of senators seeking re-election and 80-95% of House representatives seeking re-election are successful.

👥 Senators tend to represent entire states while members of Congress mostly represent districts within states.

🗳️ Re-election rates for senators are lower than those for members of Congress due to competitive states.

🤝 Members of Congress can act as trustees or delegates in representing their districts.

🗳️ Members of Congress balance their own political convictions with the needs of their constituents.

💼 Members of Congress spend significant time fundraising and providing constituency service.

🏛️ Congressional staff help run the offices both in Washington and the district.

🏛️ Members of Congress provide constituency service to help resolve issues with federal agencies.

💵 Members of Congress can secure pork-barrel projects for their districts, which can have a positive impact and contribute to their re-election.

🏢 Members of Congress may influence the location of federal facilities in their districts.

🏛️ Members of Congress cater their messages to district voters, using tactics that appeal to their constituents.

🍽️ Some members of Congress host free dinners for constituents to build loyalty.

🌾🏙️ Members of Congress focus on issues specific to their district, such as agriculture or urban concerns.

🗳️ Members of Congress benefit from the incumbency advantage, making it challenging for challengers to win elections.

👥 Incumbency advantage leads voters to re-elect current elected officials.

✅ Substantive representation: Congress members voting according to voters' preferences.

🌐 Descriptive representation: Congress members sharing characteristics with constituents.

👩‍⚖️🌈 Increased representation of women and diversity in Congress.

💰 The median wealth of members of Congress has remained relatively stable since 2008.

💼 US senators tend to have higher wealth compared to members of the US House of Representatives.

🗳️ Members of Congress are often re-elected due to their knowledge of their districts and effective campaigning.