| 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) |
6 November 2012 |
| Purpose of elections |
The 2012 elections maintained the political balance in the US Congress. The Democrats retained control of the Senate with 53 of the 100 seats (of which 23 won in 2012), while the Republicans' tally was reduced from 47 to 45. Two independent candidates won the remaining seats in the Senate. In the House of Representatives, the Republicans took 234 of the 435 directly elected seats (down from 242).
The number of women reached a record high in both chambers: 20 in the Senate (of whom five elected in 2012) and 78 in the House of Representatives.
President Barack Obama (Democrat) was re-elected, defeating Mr. Mitt Romney (Republican). The President promised to "grow the economy from the middle class out, not the top down". Mr. Romney promised to cap federal spending at 20 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), instead of 23 per cent in 2011 - 2012.
|
Date of previous elections: 2 November 2010
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: Not applicable
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections: November 2014
Number of seats at stake (Senate): 33 (partial renewal)
Number of parties winning seats: 2
Alternation of power: No (Presidential system)
Number of parties in government: 1
Names of parties in government: Democratic Party
Name of the new Speaker:
- President of the Senate: Mr. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (Democratic Party)
- President pro tempore: Mr. Patrick Leahy (Democratic Party) |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 6 November 2012 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
Seats in 2012 |
Number of women |
|
|
| Democratic Party |
53
|
23 |
16 |
|
|
| Republican Party |
45
|
8 |
4 |
|
|
| Independents |
2
|
2 |
0 |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
28
5
15.15%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
Source:
- US Congressional Research Service Library of Congress (13.11.2012, 03.12.2012, 30.01.2013, 16.07.2013) |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
