Why do incumbents have such high reelection rates? In your ...

[storky111]

Why do incumbents have such high reelection rates? In your opinion, is having the vast majority of incumbents win reelection good or bad for the health of U.S. democracy? Justify your answer.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What is the scare-off effect, and how does it help incumbents?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[ryrychapman11]

Answer to Question 1

Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Explain that the incumbency advantage is the tendency for people in office to be reelected with a great deal of regularity. Factors contributing to the incumbency advantage include visibility, the support of staff members for constituency services, and the scare-off effect.
2. Make an argument for why incumbency may or may not be good for democracy.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Define the scare-off effect as the ability of an incumbent to fend off challenges from quality opponents.
2. Explain how the institutional advantages of name recognition, fund-raising, and mailings to constituents serve to discourage opponents from challenging a sitting member of Congress.