Buy an essay: 2010 Midterm Elections

1. Briefly discuss the impact of midterm elections on the American political system.
Midterm elections in the United States of America refer to general elections that occur in the middle of a president’s for-year term in the office (are held every two years). Federal offices, which participate in election during the midterms, are members of the US Congress. They include 435 seats in the US House of Representatives, and the full terms for 33-34 out of the 100 seats in the US Senate.
During such elections 34 of the 50 American states elect their governors for four-year terms, while Vermont and New Hampshire elect their governors for two-year terms; they do it twice: in midterm and presidential elections. Midterm elections are rather important for the American policy because 36 governors are elected during these elections. There are also a lot of states that elect officers to their state legislatures and county offices every two years; so it happens during midterm and presidential election.
Midterm elections are very informative as they show the attitude of people, citizens to the government. Americans express their favor to members of United States Congress, state governors, state and federal congressmen, and a number of local elected positions, such as county commissioners, city councilmen and judges.
Since Americans vote for members of the US Senate every 6 years, and their terms begin and end on different years, American citizens vote for some senators during midterm elections. As Americans vote for Congress members every 2 years, they vote for all members of the House of Representatives during midterm elections.
The next midterm elections will be held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 and will include:
-US House of Representatives elections, 2010;
-U S Senate elections, 2010;
-US gubernatorial elections, 2010 (Kernell 2010).
All 435 seats in the U S House of Representatives and 37 seats in the US Senate and 38 state and territorial governorships, several state legislatures, 4 territorial legislatures and a lot of state and local races will be contested during this midterm election, so it will be important for American political system.

2. Why is voting such an important right and duty in a democratic society?
In a democratic society voting is an ability to show that the society is based on equality and everyone gets the same chances in life. In the United States of America voting also shows what is important for the country.
Elections, the same as a referendum, represent the legal form of direct people’s will, the most important manifestation of democracy. With the help of elections citizens have an impact on the formation of organs of state power and thereby exercise their right to participate in public affairs. Civil society based on pluralism of opinions and interests of people, won’t be able to provide the voluntary law-abiding of citizens, to avoid acute social unrest, and maybe even bloodshed, if the government authorities will not be formed on the basis of fair elections with the participation of the citizens of that country. Democratic elections are the antipode of the civil war and a military solution to the question of power (Sawer 2001).
Elections directly reflect the political system and have a strong influence on it. The whole organization and determination of voting results are closely linked to political parties. For example, electoral systems and elections with a two-party and multiparty systems are different. Elections allow citizens to understand the true meaning of the programs of political parties vying for power. Through them, and only through them, the will of the majority of the people is revealed, on such a basis democratic government may be established. Political parties contribute into the formation of such a majority (Egan 2004).
It is impossible to meet complete unanimity in the election in a democratic country with a developed political culture and the independent activity of citizens. The meaning of elections is not to demonstrate the supposed consensus among all citizens and social sectors, which can never (except for emergencies) be achieved in a developed society, but to give everyone a right to express his will, and state power – to be created and act in accordance with this will. Through a fight in the elections ultimately stability and order in public life is achieved.
Successful implementation of a simple, at first glance, role of a voter calls from a person for high political culture.
Ignoring the election affects the entire system of social and political institutions of the country, because the will of the citizens is the initial condition of legitimacy.