Members of Congress do not all serve the same length of time, and they are not all elected on the same schedule. The House and the Senate run on different clocks. Here is how long each term lasts and when you get to vote.
House terms: two years
Every member of the House of Representatives serves a two-year term. All 435 seats are up for election at the same time, in every even-numbered year. Because the term is short, House members face the voters often, which keeps them closely tied to current opinion in their districts.
Senate terms: six years, staggered
Senators serve six-year terms. The Senate is split into three groups so that about one-third of its 100 seats come up for election every two years. That staggering means the Senate never turns over all at once. In any given election year, most senators are in the middle of their terms and are not on the ballot. For a fuller comparison of the two chambers, see House vs Senate: What’s the Difference?
When congressional elections happen
Federal elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years. Every House seat is on the ballot each time, along with a rotating third of the Senate. The elections that fall halfway through a President’s term, with no presidential race at the top of the ballot, are called midterm elections. For a look at the races coming up, see the 2026 Elections page.
What a primary is
Before the November general election, each party usually holds a primary. A primary is an earlier election where voters choose which candidate will represent their party on the November ballot. Primary dates are set by each state, so they are spread across the year rather than held on a single national day. The winners of the primaries then face each other in the general election.
How vacant seats are filled
When a seat becomes vacant between regular elections, because a member resigns, dies, or leaves office, the seat may be filled by a special election. House vacancies are filled by a special election in the district. Senate vacancies are often filled by a temporary appointment from the state’s governor until the next scheduled election, depending on state law.
Why House and Senate terms differ
The two-year House term and six-year Senate term both come from the Constitution. The short House term was meant to keep that chamber responsive to current public opinion, since every member faces the voters often. The longer, staggered Senate term was meant to give that chamber more stability and a longer view, with only part of it changing at any one election. Together the two schedules balance quick responsiveness against steadiness.
Why elections are held in November
Congressional elections fall on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The date is set by federal law so the whole country votes at the same time. State and local races often share the same ballot, which is why a single trip to the polls can decide federal, state, and local offices at once.
How each Congress is numbered
Congress is organized into two-year terms that are numbered in order. The Congress meeting in 2025 through early 2027 is the 119th. Each two-year Congress is divided into two sessions, roughly one per year. The numbering resets the slate: bills that do not pass by the end of a Congress die and must be reintroduced in the next one, which adds to the pressure on the calendar.
No term limits for Congress
There is no limit on how many terms a senator or representative can serve. Unlike the President, who is capped at two terms, members of Congress can run again as long as voters keep electing them. The Supreme Court ruled in 1995 that states cannot add term limits of their own for Congress. This is why long-serving members build up seniority, which in turn shapes who leads committees.
When a new term begins
A new term does not start on Election Day. Under the 20th Amendment, the terms of senators and representatives begin on January 3, about two months after the November election. The newly elected Congress is sworn in then and chooses its leaders. Until that date, the outgoing Congress stays in office, which is why the winners wait before they can take a seat.
The lame-duck period
The weeks between the election and the new term are known as the lame-duck period. Members who lost or are retiring still hold their seats and can still vote. Congress sometimes uses this window to finish budget bills or other unfinished business before the new members arrive. Decisions made during a lame-duck session can carry real weight even though some of the members casting votes are on their way out.
To find your district and see who is on your ballot, use the lookup on the home page.
Last updated June 18, 2026.
