Elections & terms
term of office
The fixed period an elected official serves before facing voters again: 2 years for the House, 6 for the Senate, 4 for the President.
In full
Federal terms are fixed by the Constitution, there are no snap elections. Representatives serve two years, senators six, presidents four. Congressional terms begin January 3 and presidential terms January 20, both set by the Twentieth Amendment. Federal judges have no term at all: they serve 'during good Behaviour', in practice for life unless they resign or are impeached.
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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.