At stake in this election:    

• The 33 (of 100) seats in the United States (US) Senate

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Barack OBAMA (since 20 January 2009) *
• Head of Government: President Barack OBAMA (since 20 January 2009)
• Assembly: The United States (US) has a bicameral Congress consisting of the Senate with 100 seats and the House of Representatives with 435 seats.

* The President is elected by absolute majority in the Electoral College to serve a 4-year term. Each state receives a number of Electoral College votes equal to its two Senators plus the number of seats it has in the House of Representatives, which is based on its population. Washington D.C. receives three electoral votes. A candidate must receive a majority of electoral votes (at least 270) to be elected president.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by an electoral college to serve a 4-year term.
• In the Senate, 100 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 6-year terms.* In the House of Representatives 435 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 2-year terms.

* One-third of Senate seats are up for election every two years.

Election Note:

• On Tuesday 4 November 2014, the United States (US) will hold elections for both the US Senate and US House of Representatives. Many polls have the Republican’s poised to retake control (establish a majority) in the US Senate.[i]

Main parties in the electoral race:

• Party: Democratic Party
  • Leader: Nancy PELOSI (House); Harry REID (Senate)
  • Seats won in last Senate election: 55*
  • Seats won in last House of Representatives election: 201
• Party: Republican Party
  • Leader: Kevin MCCARTHY (House); Mitch MCCONNELL (Senate)
  • Seats won in last Senate election: 45
  • Seats won in last House of Representatives election: 234

* 1 Independent Senator Caucuses with the Democrats

Last election:

• The last election to the US Senate and the US House of Representatives in the United States was held on 6 November 2012.[ii] Turnout was 67.95 percent and 131,590,825 of 312,780,968 people casted ballots.[iii] The Democrats picked up 2 seats in the Senate for a total of 55, a majority. They also won 8 seats in the House, for a total of 201 seats, but did not attain a majority.[iv] The Republicans, lost 8 seats in the House but had 234 seats overall, maintaining their majority. In the Senate, they lost 2 seats for a total of 45.[v] Results can be found here and here.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 318,892,103 (July 2014 est)[vi]
• Registered Voters: 213,803,482 (November 2012)[vii]

Gender Data:

• Female Population: 161,809,242 (July 2014 est)[i]
• Is the United States  a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (since 17 July 1980)[ii]
• Has the United States ratified CEDAW: No.[iii]
• Gender Quota:  N/A
• Female Candidates in this election: N/A
• Number of Female Legislators: 79 (18.33%) of 435 seats in the US House of Representatives (2012) and 20 (20%) of 100 seats in the US Senate (2012).[iv]
• Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 5th[v]
• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Ranking: Not Ranked (latest rankings are from 2012)[vi]