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Read the passage and answer the following question(s).

US Midterm Elections (1978–1994)
President (Party) Midterm House Seats Senate Seats
Jimmy Carter (Democrat) 1978 Republicans +14 seats Republicans +3 seats
Ronald Reagan (Republican) 1982 Democrats +26 seats Democrats +1 seat
Ronald Reagan (Republican) 1986 Democrats +5 seats Democrats +8 seats
George H.W. Bush (Republican) 1990 Democrats +8 seats Democrats +1 seat
Bill Clinton (Democrat) 1994 ? ?
Use the data concerning recent elections to answer the question.

Voter turnout in US federal elections by year:
• 2012 – 61.8%*
• 2014 – 36.0%
• 2016 – 61.4%*
• 2018 – 49.4%
• 2020 – 66.8%*

*Presidential election year

Based on this data and your knowledge of social studies, what conclusion can be drawn?

A.
There is often a change in power in Congress during midterm elections because more people vote in midterm elections than in presidential elections.

B.
The incumbent party usually retains control in Congress during midterm elections because the electorate is different in midterm and presidential elections.

C.
The incumbent party usually retains control in Congress during midterm elections because more people vote in midterm elections than in presidential elections.

D.
There is often a change in power in Congress during midterm elections because the electorate is different in midterm and presidential elections.

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
D

Midterm turnout is lower and the electorate differs from presidential years, and the historical midterm data show the president’s party often loses seats (changes in congressional power).