With a reelection rate exceeding ninety percent, the American Congress is a political institution that rarely sees new faces (Mataconis). Many have wondered why career politicians are the rule and not the exception. Especially when you consider that, according to a Gallup poll, only 13% of Americans say they approve of the job done by Congress (Jones). In the scholarly article Congress: The Electoral Connection, author David R. Mayhew argues that there are several factors that contribute to this phenomenon in the political system (1975, 339-343). Mayhew commented that factors such as advertising, applying for credit, and taking positions contributed to the high reelection rates of sitting presidents; however, I would like to add that another factor, such as gerrymandering, also plays a role. First, Mayhew determined that advertising represented high reelection rates for incumbents. In his article, Mayhew explained that politicians should invent a political brand. (1975, 340). Often that political brand has little to do with the problems facing the candidate's voters, but rather with favorable characteristics of the candidate, such as knowledge, concern, and sincerity. An example of this can be found simply by looking at the campaign slogans. In election cycles, slogans such as “A name you can trust” are used in association with the candidate's name. During his bid for re-election to the Indiana Senate in 1982, former Senator Dick Lugar used the slogan "Dick Lugar, a good man for hard times" (YouTube). These slogans have nothing to do with the merit of the candidate and rather serve as a catchy phrase that allows voters to remember the candidate's name. Mayhew also went on to say that p...... middle of the paper.... .. mail privileges decrease." The Frederick News-Post. http://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/article_4c801a0f -b166-5e56-9673-9bebf0a4109f.html (accessed April 7, 2014). “House and Senate Reelection Rates Exceed 90%.” “Congress: The Electoral Connection..” Political Science Quarterly 90, no. 2 (1975): 339-343. “Campaigns and Elections In Think:” American Government /03/rand-paul-launches-filibuster-the-talking-kind-against-john-brennan/ (accessed April 6, 2014).