Amidst the backdrop of the fifth anniversary of the September 11 attacks and the war in Iraq, American voters head to the polls on November 7 to determine control of Congress. All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are up for grabs, as are 33 of the U.S. Senate's 100 seats. The Republican Party is seeking to maintain its grip on power, while the Democrats are trying to win the 15 House and 6 Senate seats they need to wrest control of Congress for the first time since they were swept from power in 1994 after four-decades of almost uninterrupted control of both chambers. The United States is but one of many countries whose politics have been influenced by the global war on terrorism.
The Institutions
Explore the fundamental institutions of the U.S. political system and how they operate:
The Background
Some of the key individuals, events, and political policies that will play a large role in the outcome of the November midterm elections include:
Global Effects on Elections
The war in Iraq has also influenced politics in other countries, where some leaders, such as Tony Blair and John Howard, were re-elected, while the ruling parties that supported the U.S. and British-led invasion of Iraq (such as those in Italy and Spain) were defeated at the polls.
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When the writers of the Constitution created Congress, they intended for it to be part of the system of checks and balances.
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Members of Congress discuss how laws are made.
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