Final answer:
Congressional elections in the United States occur every two years, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. These include elections for the entire House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate. Every four years, these elections coincide with the presidential election.
Step-by-step explanation:
Congressional elections in the United States are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November every two years. During these general elections, voters have the opportunity to choose members of the House of Representatives, who serve 2-year terms and are all up for election every two years. Senators, who serve 6-year terms, are elected on a staggered basis, so that only a third of the Senate is up for election at a time, meaning there are Senate elections every two years as well.
Every four years, these elections coincide with the presidential election, where the President of the United States is elected through the Electoral College. However, it's important to note that the public is not directly electing the President, but rather voting for electors who then vote for the President in December following the public's November vote.
Midterm elections occur halfway between presidential elections, where voters choose one-third of senators and every member of the House of Representatives without coinciding with a presidential election. The midterm congressional elections in November are an essential part of civic engagement, reflecting the electorate's stance on current policy and government direction.