| Parliament name |
Congress |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name |
Senate |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
House of Representatives
|
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
8 November 2016 |
| Purpose of elections |
The Republicans retained the control of the House of Representatives and the Senate, albeit with a reduced majority. Mr. Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, defeated Ms. Hillary Clinton of the Democratic Party to become President of the United States (see note).
The presidential election campaign pushed congressional elections to the background. Mr. Trump, a wealthy businessman, pledged to "Make America Great Again". He promised to create more jobs, tighten US borders and renegotiate free trade deals. Ms. Clinton promised reforms that would give unauthorised immigrants a path to full citizenship. Mr. Trump also promised to "repeal and replace" Obamacare (the federal health insurance system introduced under the Obama Administration in 2010). Ms. Clinton praised Obamacare but promised to block unreasonable premium increases.
Note:
An American president is chosen by a group of electors known as the electoral college, which currently comprises 538 people. On election day, Americans cast votes for electors. In 2016, candidates needed to win 270 to be elected President. Mr. Trump won 306 electors against Ms. Clinton's 232, although Ms. Clinton won the popular vote.
|
Date of previous elections: 4 November 2014
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: N/A
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections: November 2018
Number of seats at stake: 34 (partial renewal)
Number of candidates: Not available.
Percentage of women candidates: Not available.
16 women won party primary.
Number of parties contesting the election: 2*
*Only two parties, the Democrats and Republicans, fielded Congressional candidates in all 50 US states and the territories.
Number of parties winning seats: 2
Alternation of power: Yes
Number of parties in government: 1
Names of parties in government: Republican Party
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 3 January 2017
Name of the new Speaker:
- President of the Senate: Mr. Mike Pence (Republican Party)
- President pro tempore: Mr. Orrin G. Hatch (Republican Party) |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 8 November 2016 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
| Republican Party |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Democratic Party |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
Seats 2016 |
|
|
|
| Republican Party |
52
|
22 |
|
|
|
| Democratic Party |
48
|
12 |
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
30
4
11.76%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
Note on the "Distribution of seats according to sex":
The "Distribution of seats according to sex" above shows the breakdown for the senators elected in 2016: 4 women of 34 senators.
After the 2016 elections, there were 21 women in all out of 100 senators.
Sources:
US Congressional Research Service Library of Congress (14.11.2016, 19.11.2016, 09.02.2017, 03.01.2018, 03.05.2018, 27.08.2018, 06.09.2018)
http://www.fec.gov/data/CandidateSummary.do
http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/sites/default/files/library/cansum16.pdf
http://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/senate
https://www.ft.com/us-election/trump-clinton-policies |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
