E

The basic election cycle in the United States is deter-

mined primarily by the length of terms the Constitu-

tion set for the president and members of Congress. By

staggering the terms and varying their length, the

framers of the Constitution ensured that it would be

virtually impossible for the entire government to be

turned out in any single election. The election cycle

therefore serves as part of the system of checks and bal-

ances that prevents any one branch of the federal gov-

ernment from assuming tyrannical powers.