A congressional race refers to an election for a seat in the United States Congress. This includes both the House of Representatives and the Senate, which are two separate chambers that make up the legislative branch of the federal government. During these elections, voters choose from among candidates who represent different political parties or as independents. The candidate with the most votes wins a seat in their respective chamber for a term lasting either two years (House) or six years (Senate). These races are held at various times throughout the year depending on the state and district, but they generally occur every even-numbered year.