Elections & terms
general election
The binding November election among the parties' nominees (and independents). Federal law fixes it on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
In full
Congress set a single national date in 1845: the Tuesday after the first Monday of November. House and Senate races are decided directly by the voters of the district or state (most by plurality; some states require a majority with runoffs). The presidential race is decided state by state through the Electoral College.
Where to go next
Keep going
Browse every term in the glossary, or see the vocabulary in motion in the How government works walkthroughs.
A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.