IFES Election Guide - Country Profile: United States

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Legislative
November 4, 2014
Legislative
November 2016
Presidential
November 2016

United States
United States of America
Region: Americas

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: President Barack OBAMA
Head of Government: President Barack OBAMA
Assembly: United States has a bicameral Congress consisting of the Senate with 100 seats and the House of Representatives with 435 seats.

Description of electoral system:

The President is elected by an electoral college to serve a 4-year term.*
In the Senate 100 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 6-year terms*. In the House of Representatives 435 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 2-year terms.

* The President is elected by absolute majority in the Electoral College to serve a 4-year term. Each state receives a number of Electoral College votes equal to its two Senators plus the number of seats it has in the House of Representatives, which is based on its population. Washington D.C. receives three electoral votes. A candidate must receive a majority of electoral votes (at least 270) to be elected president.

* One-third of Senate seats are up for election every two years.