Why do americans have mid term elections?
824377
Because our Congressmen are reelected every 2 years and the Senators are reelected every 6 years, which are staggared so that different senators are up for reelection every 2 years. We hold the midterm elections in order to vote for these officials.
25859
Because we are one week from free elections.  Because if we can have a democratic foothold there, it would go a long way to having democratic societies pop up throughout the Middle East.
802944
Because elections in the U.S. are a STATE issue, not a federal one. There are very few laws at the federal level dealing with elections. The government leaves most of it up to the states to decide how to do it.
795435
In a Democracy, you get the leadership you deserve.  The American people are stupid, so stupid leadership is what they will vote for.  Any candidate who is intelligent would do well to conceal it.
280453
Simple: mid term elections.  Congressional candidates can distance themselves from the "president" if they think their constituents are unhappy with his performance.  If this is the case, the candidate can "promise" to help get the party back on track.
1164149
that is a great question.  I believe the American populace has become disenfranchised.  We seem to put a lot of stock in how these elections are tallied when there are mechanical problems and corrupt election commissioners all over the place!  You can't tell me a majority of the population voted for Dubya!
1128591
In the US, elections are always on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. That means November 7th this year.\n\nAnd I wish more congresswhores were worried they'd lose their cushy country-club membership. But they have effectively made many laws over the years giving incumbents huge advantages in elections for that very reason.
962742
There are many more than two parties.  Some of the others have been elected and hold office locally and nationally.  The big two tie up most of the money and have the PR firms to groom their image, speech writers and campiagn managers to distract you from the issues.  The rest run on issues, which most people don't seem to understand.  Also Americans have an awful habit of wanting to vote for a winner instead of who they beleive would do the best job.  The two parties dominate because we are lazy voters.
171457
Because they are duly elected.  When only about 60% or less vote in any election, then we get government that acts as though they only have that 60% in mind.  In other words by getting closer to a 100% turnout for elections you will get politicians that will actually listen to the American Public and less to Special Interest Groups.  It is not just enough to get out and vote we must convince everyone to get out and vote, then when we speak they will listen.  Until that happens we are going have more of the same.
793458
1.  Because most americans really ARE either a Dem or a Rep.\n\n2.  most countries end up falling into a two party system.  It's certainly better than a one party system, and with too many parties, they end up having to form coalitions to create a majority.  So- basically a two party system kinda' works.  Ya' can't give people too many choices.
780961
Obviously you are not in the United States. The elections that just took place were the mid term elections, and not the presidential election. Bush is still the president through 2008. What changed in this election was that now there are more Democrats than Republicans in the Senate and congress. It was the opposite before the election. But after only one week, the Democrats are making fools of themselves, as usual, so it is possible that in 2008 we will have a majority of Republicans in both hoses and another Republican president. Capisce?
445889
They have a lot of problems to work out before a vote. I talked with someone today in Washington that said it might not be until after the election. Both sides want to deal with it at the same time they don't. More pressure put on them by the public faster the process.
145754
everyone certified in america votes for anyone who's running, every other week they ttake off the canidate who has the lowest amount of votes. This is how it is supposed to work, for an exception of the Bush Regime.
960432
No. I think we need a party for the middle class.  The parties stay in power because the things that are important to the middle class are supported some by one party and some by another.  Our vote depends on which of those elements is most important to us on election day.  We need a party that is for the middle class, at least solidly, on most issues.  That means populist, not globalist.
812994
Two reasons:\n\n1) The electoral vote is only used for President and Vice President. The U.S. Congress and your state and local offices are elected by the popular vote.\n\n2) The electoral votes from your state is determined by the popular vote in your state.
1015147
I am an American.  \n\nThe parties are designed to get votes for ambitious people to advance their careers.  To do this, they will change their platforms at the drop of a big donation and based on projected vote totals.  It is a shame that they pretend to be patriotic organizations, but because their intention is to control their message, they have the resources to shape public opinion.
1187194
i've seen a lot of responses that say it's because so smaller states have a say. what nonsense!!\nwe have the "college" because our democracy is a farce. a popular vote means whoever receives the most votes wins. we, the american people aren't trusted to vote in a president. it is decided by our "betters". a popular vote is the only way a true democracy can function. that's why our's is broken. and needs fixing badly.