Final answer:
Congressmen/women begin their new term of Congress in even years, associated with Midterm elections. These elections occur in the years between presidential elections and involve voting for the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate.
Step-by-step explanation:
Congressmen and congresswomen begin their new term of Congress in even years, and this is typically associated with Midterm elections. Midterm elections take place in the even-numbered years between Presidential elections. These elections involve the entirety of the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate. The general election occurs on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November, in these even-numbered years. During midterm elections, voters do not vote in the Electoral College system—this system is reserved for presidential elections. Instead, they use the popular vote to determine their representatives in Congress.
Furthermore, the performance of a party during the midterm elections can be influenced by the public's perception of the sitting president's performance, which is sometimes referred to as the reverse-coattail effect. Thus, midterms serve as a type of barometer for the sitting president's administration and can lead to shifts in party control within Congress.