In most European countries governments are elected for 3-6 years (though they may end up happening more frequently since, most places, it’s possible to call early elections). The campaigning only really happens for 1-2 months before the election.
The fact that the US essentially spends 1.5-2 years campaigning for a 4 year position is insanity to me!
That’s pretty interesting, thanks for sharing. It probably also has to do with a more strict balance of power. Our president is now our king, but really it’s only the presidential election that has constant campaigning for the next election. It’s ok now though, we’ll no longer need that, as our king will choose the next one
Our president is now our king, but really it’s only the presidential election that has constant campaigning for the next election.
This isn’t really true. Campaigning takes up a large amount of time for even house members. They have two year terms and they spend much of that fending off primary challenges and then campaigning for the general election.
It’s also not true because, in England/the UK, at least, the King was established as not being above the law by the Magna Carta and when Charles I tried to dispute that they cut his head off. The autocracy that the USA is setting up is far worse than a monarchy.
Maybe that’s internal? I don’t see much house or senate campaigning until the months lead up to the elections (ad spends, yard signs, rallies, etc) though I will agree they are likely working on it the whole time
It’s portions internal for sure, but yeah it’s happening the whole time basically. Increasingly all elections are becoming nationalized and about national issues rather than something about the actual locality being “served”.
Most house politicians spend all of the time they aren’t in Washington doing fundraising and other campaign related activities. Some (like AOC) try to actually help their communities during these times and fundraise or organize on that basis.
It absolutely blows my (Canadian) mind that four months is considered ‘short’ for a campaign.
Do you elect new leaders every three months?
In most European countries governments are elected for 3-6 years (though they may end up happening more frequently since, most places, it’s possible to call early elections). The campaigning only really happens for 1-2 months before the election.
The fact that the US essentially spends 1.5-2 years campaigning for a 4 year position is insanity to me!
That’s pretty interesting, thanks for sharing. It probably also has to do with a more strict balance of power. Our president is now our king, but really it’s only the presidential election that has constant campaigning for the next election. It’s ok now though, we’ll no longer need that, as our king will choose the next one
This isn’t really true. Campaigning takes up a large amount of time for even house members. They have two year terms and they spend much of that fending off primary challenges and then campaigning for the general election.
It’s also not true because, in England/the UK, at least, the King was established as not being above the law by the Magna Carta and when Charles I tried to dispute that they cut his head off. The autocracy that the USA is setting up is far worse than a monarchy.
Maybe that’s internal? I don’t see much house or senate campaigning until the months lead up to the elections (ad spends, yard signs, rallies, etc) though I will agree they are likely working on it the whole time
It’s portions internal for sure, but yeah it’s happening the whole time basically. Increasingly all elections are becoming nationalized and about national issues rather than something about the actual locality being “served”.
Most house politicians spend all of the time they aren’t in Washington doing fundraising and other campaign related activities. Some (like AOC) try to actually help their communities during these times and fundraise or organize on that basis.
Makes sense. I wish more politicians would combine fundraising or organizing with ways to help those they were voted to represent.
No but the canadian entire election cycle lasts about 2
UK just went from announcement to election day in 6 weeks. But then, there wasn’t much point dragging it out any longer, was there Rishi ;)