Americans go to the polls in congressional elections

Overview: Americans headed to the polls yesterday to cast their votes for the U.S. House and Senate. In last minute campaigning, Democrats and Republicans scrambled for votes in an effort to capture control of the House and Senate. In the end, it was Republicans who were doing most of the celebrating.

RELATED • CNNstudentnews.com: Election 2002 Q&A  • U.S. Senate  • U.S. House of Representatives  ELECTION RESOURCES • Partner Resource - Harcourt: Holt, Rinehart and Winston’s American Government  • AOL@School: Election Guide 2002  • AOL: Election Guide 2002  • CNN.com: Election 2002  • Turner Learning: Your Choice, Your Voice: The Voter  • National Student/Parent Mock Election  • Federal Election Commission  • FEC Watch  • League of Women Voters  • opensecrets.org: Your Guide to the Money in U.S. Elections  • Project Vote Smart

1. What were some of the hotly contested U.S. Senate races? Who were some of the winners? Were there any surprises? Which two political parties were battling for control of the House and Senate? Was there a clear winner in each case? Why is party control of Congress important?

2. Ask students: What do you think the term "balance of power" means? Which party now controls each house of the U.S. Congress? Divide the class into small groups. Have each group check media resources to determine the final results of yesterday's House and Senate races. Direct each group to design two charts, graphs, or original graphic representations to illustrate the new "balance of power" in the House and the Senate. For example, one group may choose to illustrate the new balance of power in the House by drawing a seesaw, tilted toward the Majority Party. Another may choose to illustrate the balance of power in the Senate via a pie graph. Have each group present its visuals to the class. Ask: What specific information do each of these visuals convey? What are some of the most effective ways of presenting this information? Post groups' graphic depictions in the classroom.

3. Inform students that Former House Speaker Tip O'Neill once said that all politics are local. What did he mean by this? Review the results of congressional elections (U.S. House and Senate) in your state and generate a class discussion about their significance. In students' views, did these individuals win because of national issues or local concerns? Discuss how congressional representatives translate the concerns of their local electorate into national policy.