Changes

The legislature is largely defined by local politics, and rightly so.  In New Jersey each resident has two Assemblymen and one Senator representing him in the statehouse, and one member of the House of Representatives and two Senators representing him in Congress.  Although both the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate are part of "Congress", the term "congressman" typically applies only to members of the House of Representatives.  So your "congressman" is the elected official who represents your congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.  He is elected every two years on Election Day, and you can have an influence on whether he is reelected or defeated, either in his political party's primary (held in early June in New Jersey) or in the general election in early November.

The legislature is largely defined by local politics, and rightly so.  In New Jersey each resident has two Assemblymen and one Senator representing him in the statehouse, and one member of the House of Representatives and two Senators representing him in Congress.  Although both the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate are part of "Congress", the term "congressman" typically applies only to members of the House of Representatives.  So your "congressman" is the elected official who represents your congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.  He is elected every two years on Election Day, and you can have an influence on whether he is reelected or defeated, either in his political party's primary (held in early June in New Jersey) or in the general election in early November.

Due to gerrymandering, most congressional seats in New Jersey (as in most states) are "safe seats," which means one of the two major parties has an almost insurmountable advantage on Election Day.  In other words, whomever the controlling political party nominates in its primary for the House of Representatives is likely to win the general election against the other party's candidate.  But it may be possible to defeat the candidate in his party's primary election that nominates him in June, although it may take several election cycles before succeeding at that.

Due to gerrymandering, most congressional seats in New Jersey (as in most states) are "safe seats," which means one of the two major parties has an almost insurmountable advantage on Election Day.  In other words, whomever the controlling political party nominates in its primary for the House of Representatives is likely to win the general election against the other party's candidate.  But it may be possible to defeat the candidate in his party's primary election that nominates him in June, although it may take several election cycles (repetitive challenges every two years against his reelection) before succeeding at that.

Because more than 300 out of 435 Houae of Representatives are "safe seats" controlled by Democrats or Republicans, does that mean the "House" is always controlled by the same political party?  No, because there are still 50-100 seats that are toss-ups on election day, and that is enough to tip the majority to one side or the other.  Due to landslide victories by Republicans in 2010 in the "midterm elections" (elections in a year not divisible by four, such that there is no presidential candidate on the ballot), Republicans have a substantial majority in the "House" in 2012.  But that control could be lost on Election Day.

Because more than 300 out of 435 Houae of Representatives are "safe seats" controlled by Democrats or Republicans, does that mean the "House" is always controlled by the same political party?  No, because there are still 50-100 seats that are toss-ups on election day, and that is enough to tip the majority to one side or the other.  Due to landslide victories by Republicans in 2010 in the "midterm elections" (elections in a year not divisible by four, such that there is no presidential candidate on the ballot), Republicans have a substantial majority in the "House" in 2012.  But that control could be lost on Election Day.