OfficeSelectionMethod

AI-generated Key Takeaways

• Officeholders typically gain their seats through election or appointment, but the specific method can vary depending on circumstances.

• The SelectionMethod for an officeholder reflects how they most recently obtained their seat if they held it multiple times.

• The table provides definitions for various ways an officeholder can gain a seat, including appointed, directly-elected, ex-officio, hereditary, indirectly-elected, and succession.

• Examples illustrate how each selection method applies to different offices and officeholders.

• Succession applies when an officeholder takes over a vacant seat due to the incumbent leaving office outside of an election cycle, superseding most other methods.

Officeholders usually gain their seat through two means: election or appointment. However, the circumstantial factors in which they are elected can vary. As such, we look to gain information as to how an officeholder gains their specific seat. Consider the following examples:

• Lyndon B. Johnson was the president of the United States (POTUS). Under normal circumstances, voters elect the POTUS indirectly. However, Johnson succeeded the position when it became vacant. Hence, the SelectionMethod for the Office of POTUS for Johnson is succession.

• The governor of California appointed Alex Padilla to replace Kamala Harris as senator from California. Although voters usually elect U.S. senators directly, Padilla gained his seat through an appointment. Hence, the SelectionMethod for the Office of the United States Senate for Padilla is appointed.

  Note: When an officeholder gains the same seat through multiple means, choose the SelectionMethod that shows how the officeholder obtained their latest tenure.

The following table lists the enumerations in the Office entity for how an officeholder gains their seat:

Value	Description
appointed	The officeholder takes office because a head-of-state, governmental member or body, or peerage placed them into the position. Examples: A bishop in the House of Lords A senator in France Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State
directly-elected	The officeholder takes office because the populace elected them. Examples: A member of the EU Parliament John Cornyn, who was elected to the United States Senate in Texas, 2020. Ben Ray Lujan, who was elected to the United States House of Representatives in New Mexico, 2018.
ex-officio	The officeholder takes office because they hold another office, either concurrently or non-concurrently. Examples: The French President holds the position of Co-Prince of Andorra for the length of their presidency. After their term ends, Italian Presidents hold the position of Italian Senator.
hereditary	The officeholder took office because they were a member of a bloodline that made them an heir to the position. Examples: The Queen of England A baron in the House of Lords
indirectly-elected	The officeholder takes office because they were elected by members of parliament or by members of a controlling party who were in turn elected by the populace. Examples: Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany Joe Biden, president of the United States
succession	The officeholder takes office because they were next in line and the incumbent either resigned, passed away, or was forcefully removed. Note: If the incumbent status change occurs while in an active legislative turn and not in an election cycle, the succession value supersedes all others except hereditary. Examples: The French senate president becomes the president of the republic if the seat becomes vacant. The U.S. vice president becomes the president if the office becomes vacant.