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Congressional elections happen every two years. Voters choose all 435 voting members of the House of Representatives and the senators whose six-year terms are expiring—roughly one-third of the 100 Senate seats. The House represents people through seats apportioned among states by population; the Senate gives every state two seats. The party holding a majority is determined separately in each chamber, so one party can control the House while another controls the Senate.
How the House and Senate differ
| Feature | House of Representatives | Senate |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 435 voting seats | 100 seats: two for each state |
| Representation | Seats are apportioned among states by population; every state has at least one representative | Equal representation by state, regardless of population |
| Term length | Two years | Six years |
| Regular election cycle | All seats are contested every two years | About one-third of seats are contested every two years |
The U.S. Constitution sets the House’s two-year terms and population-based apportionment, and establishes two senators per state serving six-year terms. Read Article I of the Constitution. The figures of 435 House seats and 100 senators are reported by USAGov’s congressional elections guide.
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Why all House seats are up every two years
Representatives serve two-year terms, so every House seat is contested at each regular congressional election. Federal law provides for representatives to be elected from districts in states with more than one representative; states with one seat elect a representative statewide. Each state has at least one seat, and its number of representatives is based on population.
Because House elections are held every two years, voters can change the chamber’s membership at each regular election. The Constitution says representatives are chosen “every second Year by the People of the several States.”
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Why only about one-third of the Senate is elected each time
Senators serve six-year terms, but the Senate does not elect all its members in the same year. Its seats are divided into three staggered classes, with the terms of about one-third expiring every two years. As a result, most senators continue in office after a regular election while voters choose senators for the class whose terms are ending.
The Constitution originally assigned Senate selection to state legislatures. The Seventeenth Amendment established direct election by voters. The Senate says the amendment was ratified in 1913 and the first popular Senate elections were held in 1914; see the Senate’s history of the Seventeenth Amendment.
When congressional elections happen
Federal law schedules elections for Representatives and Delegates on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in every even-numbered year. Terms for incoming members begin on January 3. Presidential elections occur on the same general-election schedule in presidential years, but congressional races are separate contests: a presidential result does not determine which party wins either chamber.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →States set practical voting details such as registration, early voting, absentee ballots and counting procedures. Those rules vary, so use your state election office for deadlines and instructions; USAGov’s election guide directs voters to state resources.
What “control of Congress” means
Congress has two chambers, and each has its own majority. House control depends on the party affiliations of House members; Senate control depends on those of senators. The results can produce one party with majorities in both chambers, or split control with different parties leading each chamber. For this reason, “control of Congress” is best understood by specifying House control and Senate control separately.
For a particular election, distinguish the election-night projection from the official result. The House Clerk’s historical record is compiled from state and territorial sources, and vacancies during a Congress can be filled by special elections. The House describes this process in its history of vacancies and special elections. Membership can therefore change after the regular election as well.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to read election results accurately
- Check the House and Senate results separately; they are distinct contests.
- Compare the number of seats each party holds in each chamber rather than assuming the presidential winner’s party controls Congress.
- For a current control claim, consult the latest official or certified results and account for vacancies and subsequent special elections.
Each chamber has constitutional authority to judge the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members. Contested-election proceedings are exceptional; the Senate explains its procedures for a disputed Senate election in its account of contested elections.
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