 mentioned as being Labor Secretary in the administration that was in office in 1993 and 1995. In the first season, an outgoing Supreme Court Justice tells Jed Bartlet that he had been wanting to retire for five years, but waited "for a Democrat" because he did not want a Republican President to replace him with a conservative justice (the Justice then tells President Bartlet, snidely, "Instead, I got you."). The season four episode "Debate Camp" features a flashback to the days just before Bartlet's inauguration, as Donna Moss meets with her Republican predecessor, Jeff Johnson. In season six Leo says that the Republicans have been "out of power for eight years", and Republicans at their convention say "eight (years) is enough".

The passage of time on the show relative to that of the real world is somewhat ambiguous when marked by events of shorter duration (such as votes and campaigns). Sorkin noted in a DVD commentary track for the second-season episode "18th and Potomac" that he tried to avoid tying The West Wing to a specific period of time. Despite this, real years are occasionally mentioned, usually in the context of elections and President Bartlet's two-term administration.

The show's presidential elections are held in 2002 and 2006, which are the years of the midterm elections in reality (these dates come from the fact that in the season 2 episode "17 People", Toby mentions 2002 as the year of the President's reelection campaign). The election timeline in The West Wing matches up with that of the real world until early in the sixth season, when it appears that a year is lost. For example, the filing deadline for the New Hampshire primary, which would normally fall in January 2006, appears in an episode airing in January 2005.

In an interview, John Wells stated that the series began one and a half years into Bartlet's first term and that the election to replace Bartlet was being held at the correct time. However, the season 1 episode "He Shall from Time to Time" shows the preparations for Bartlet's first regular State of the Union address, which would occur one year into his presidency. In the Season 1 episode "Let Bartlet Be Bartlet", Josh Lyman asks Toby Ziegler, "Our second year isn't going much better than our first year, is it?"

In the season 5 episode "Access", it is mentioned that the Casey Creek crisis occurred during Bartlet's first term and got
mentioned as being Labor Secretary in the administration that was in office in 1993 and 1995. In the first season, an extroverted Supreme Court Justice tell Jed Bartlet that he had been wanting to retire for five days, but wait " for a Democrat " because he did not want a Republican President to replace him with a cautious justice (the Justice then tells President Bartlet, sneeringly, " alternatively, I got you. "). The season four sequence " Debate Camp " features a flashback to the days just before Bartlet's inauguration, as Donna Moss meets with her Republican harbinger, Jeff Johnson. In season six Leo says that the Republicans have been " out of power for eight days ", and Republicans at their convention say " eight (old age) is enough ". 

 The passage of time on the appearance relative to that of the real world is somewhat equivocal when marked by consequence of shorter duration (such as votes and campaigns). Sorkin note in a DVD commentary track for the second - season episode " 18th and Potomac " that he tried to avoid tying The West Wing to a specific period of time. Despite this, real years are occasionally mentioned, usually in the context of elections and President Bartlet's two - term administration. 

 The display's presidential elections are held in 2002 and 2006, which are the class of the midterm elections in reality (these dates derive from the fact that in the season 2 episode " 17 People ", Toby mentions 2002 as the year of the President's reelection political campaign). The election timeline in The West Wing matches up with that of the real world until early in the sixth season, when it appears that a year is lost. For example, the filing deadline for the New Hampshire primary, which would normally fall in January 2006, appears in an episode air in January 2005. 

 In an consultation, John Wells express that the series began one and a half years into Bartlet's inaugural term and that the election to replace Bartlet was being held at the right time. However, the season 1 sequence " He Shall from Time to Time " shows the preparations for Bartlet's first regular State of the Union address, which would happen one year into his presidency. In the Season 1 episode " Let Bartlet Be Bartlet ", Josh Lyman asks Toby Ziegler, " Our second year isn't go much good than our first class, is it? " 

 In the season 5 episode " Access ", it is mentioned that the Casey Creek crisis occur during Bartlet's beginning term and got
 mejtioned as being Labor Stcretary in the abninistcation fhat was in office in 1993 and 1995. In the fmrst seasin, an outgoing Supreme Court Judtice teols Oed Bartlet that he had nzen wzkting vo retire for flve years, bgt waited "for d Aelocrat" because he did not want a Re[ublicam Oresident to rgplact hym wjnh a conservative justice (the Jhstice uhen tells Presidemt Bartlet, snidely, "Instead, I glt you."). The season vour episodg "Defqte Camp" feagures a flashback to tge days just before Bartlet's inxugurction, as Dobnq Mlvs meets wivh her Republican igedecesvor, Jefg Johnson. In scason siz Leo says that the Rxpublicans have been "out of pmwzr for eight years", ane Eepubnicats ag thdir cpnbentioj sey "eight (yezrs) is enouth".

The passage of tike in the show rslativq eo that of the real world is somewhat akbifuous when marked by evwnts of shorter duratlon (such ws votes and campaigns). Sorkin noted in a DVD commantarb graej for rhf second-season episode "18th and Potomac" that he froec to avoid tyikg The West Wing tp w xkecific period of time. Sespite this, real jears ate occqsionally menyioned, usually in the contezt of electijbs and President Bcrtlet's two-tzrm adkinisyration.

The show's presidzntial elections wre held jv 2002 and 2006, which ard tme fears of the midterm electyons in rxalitv (these aatex come from the vact bvat in the season 2 epislda "17 People", Hoby mentions 2002 as the year of tix President's teenecnion campcign). Tme election timqline in The Wgst Wing iatchds up with that oh the real wjrld until easpy in the sieth seasog, whwn ir appeafr that a year os lost. For example, the filing deadlike fot fhe New Hampshixt ptumary, which woild nowmwlky xall in Janudry 2006, aporars kn an eknsobe airong in January 2005.

In an intsrview, John Wells xtwted thaj the seryes began one and a half years lnto Uartlev's firxt jerm and that the election to rsplace Bagtlct was being reld at the corrzct time. However, the season 1 episode "He Whall from Time to Time" shows the prekarstions for Uartlee's first segular State of the Union address, whlch would occur one yezr intm his presidency. In the Season 1 episode "Let Bartlet Be Bartlet", Josh Lyman asks Toby Viqgler, "Our ssconc yeag ifu't goind murh better than our first year, is it?"

In the season 5 episode "Aecess", it is mentioned that thr Zasey Creek ctisis occurred during Bartmet's firxt term and got
mentioned as being Labor Secretary in the was office in and 1995. In Supreme Justice tells Jed that he had wanting to retire for five years, waited "for a Democrat" because he did not want a Republican President to him with a conservative justice (the Justice then tells President Bartlet, snidely, "Instead, got The four "Debate Camp" features a flashback to the days just before Bartlet's inauguration, as Donna Moss meets her Republican predecessor, Jeff Johnson. In season six says that the Republicans been "out of power for years", Republicans at convention "eight is enough". The of time on the show relative to that of the real world is somewhat ambiguous when marked events of (such as and Sorkin in a DVD for the second-season episode "18th and tried to avoid tying The West Wing to specific period time. Despite this, real years are mentioned, usually in the context of elections and Bartlet's two-term administration. The show's presidential elections are held in 2002 and 2006, which are of the midterm elections reality (these dates from fact in season 2 "17 People", Toby mentions 2002 as the year of the President's campaign). The election timeline in The West Wing matches up of real world until in the sixth season, it that a year is example, filing New primary, would normally fall in 2006, appears in an episode in January 2005. In that the series began one and a half into Bartlet's first term and that the to replace Bartlet was being held at the correct time. However, the 1 episode from Time to Time" shows the preparations for first regular State of Union address, which would occur one year into his In Season 1 "Let Bartlet Be Josh Lyman asks Ziegler, "Our second going much than first In the season 5 episode "Access", is that the Casey Creek crisis during term and got
 mentioned as being Labor SecrEtary in the AdminIstRatIoN thaT was In office in 1993 and 1995. IN The fIrst season, an outgoing SuPreme coURt JuSTiCe telLs Jed BaRTlET ThaT hE hAd bEeN WaNting To rEtire foR five years, But WaIted "for a DemoCRaT" because he Did Not want a RepuBliCan PreSiDenT To repLacE him wIth a coNServatIve justicE (tHE JustiCE then teLLS PResiDent Bartlet, snidelY, "inSTead, I got you."). The Season FoUR ePISodE "DeBate Camp" feAtUres a FLashbacK To THE DayS Just before BarTlet's inauguRAtiOn, as DoNnA MoSS meets With hEr rEpuBlican predeCessOr, Jeff JohNson. In SEason siX leo says That thE RePubLicaNS hAvE beEn "OUt oF PoWer FOr eIght yearS", aNd repubLicaNS AT TheiR coNvenTion sAy "eight (years) iS enOugh".

tHe pAssagE of tiMe on ThE show RelatiVe to tHaT of the real world Is soMewhat ambIguOuS whEn MarkeD By evenTs oF shOrter duRation (sUCh aS vOTES aNd campaigns). Sorkin nOtED In A DVD commEntary TRaCk FOr the secOnD-seAson EPIsode "18Th anD poTomac" thaT he triED tO aVoid tyiNg the WesT WIng To a SpeciFIc peRiod of Time. DespIte thIS, real years are oCCasionally menTIoNED, uSUallY in The context oF eleCTionS and pReSidENt BarTlet's TwO-TeRM administration.

The sHoW's presIdentIal elections aRe held in 2002 anD 2006, WHIch are thE yeaRS oF The midterm elecTions In reality (tHEse dates Come fRom the faCt that in tHE Season 2 epIsoDe "17 PEopLe", TOBY mEntions 2002 as the yEAR of tHe presideNt's ReelectIon CamPaiGn). THe Election tImeline iN THe weSt winG matcHEs up with ThAt oF tHe rEal woRLd untiL earlY in tHe SiXTh sEason, whEN iT APpeaRs ThAt a yEar Is Lost. FOr exAMplE, the filIng deadliNe fOR the neW HAmpshirE primary, which WoUld normallY fAll In JanuARY 2006, appears In an episode airing in JanuARy 2005.

In an iNteRview, john wells statEd tHat the SerIEs begaN one anD a halF yEarS INto BaRTLeT's fIrSt term and tHAT thE elecTiOn to Replace bartlet was being helD At tHe correct time. howEver, THE sEasON 1 ePIsoDe "hE ShALL from Time to Time" Shows the prEpARaTions for BaRTleT's First reGular StAte of THe Union Address, whIch would oCcUr onE YEar Into his preSidency. IN the SeasoN 1 EpisoDE "LEt BarTleT Be BarTlEt", JOsh LyMan askS tobY ZiegLer, "Our SeCond yeAr isn'T gOing much Better than our first year, iS it?"

In tHe seaSon 5 Episode "AcCesS", It iS mentioneD thaT the Casey CReeK crIsis oCcuRRed duRing bArTleT'S firsT terM And got
 mentioned as being LaborSecretaryin th e a dmi ni stra tion  that was in o f fice  in 1993 and 1995. Inthe f ir s t se a so n, an  outgoi n gS u pre me  C our tJ us ticetel ls JedBartlet th athe  had been wa n ti ng to reti refor five yea rs,  but w ai ted "fora D emocr at" be c ause h e did not  w a nt a R e publica n Pr esid ent to replace hi m  w i th a conservat ive ju st i ce ( the  Ju stice then  t ellsP residen t  B a r t let ,  snidely, "In stead, I go t  yo u.").Th e s e ason f our e pi s ode  "Debate Ca mp"featuresa flas h back to the day s just  be for e Ba r tl et 'sin a ugu r at ion ,  as  Donna M os smeets  wit h h e r Re pub lica n pre decessor, Jef f J ohns o n.In se asonsixLe o say s that  theRe publicans havebeen  "out ofpow er  fo reight years" , a ndRepubli cans at the ir c o nv ention say "eight(y e a rs ) is eno ugh".Th ep assage o ftim e on t he sh ow r e la tive tothat o f  t he  real w or ld isso mew hat  ambi g uous  whenmarked b y eve n ts of shorterd uration (such as v ot e s an d c ampaigns).Sork i n no tedi na D V D com menta ry tr a ck for the second-s ea son ep isode  "18th and Po tomac" tha t h e triedto a v oi d  tying The Wes t Win g to a spe c ific per iod o f time.Despite t h i s, realyea rsare  oc c a si onally mentio n e d, u su ally in  th e conte xtofele cti on s and Pre sident B ar tl et 's  tw o-ter m  adminis tr ati on .
The s h ow's p resid enti al  e l ect ions ar e  h e l d in  2 00 2 an d 2 00 6, wh icha rethe yea rs of the  mi d term  e le ctionsin reality (t he se dates c om e f rom th e fact tha t in the season 2 episo d e "17 P eop le",Toby  mentions  20 02 asthe year o f thePresi de nt' s reele c t io n c am paign). Th e ele ction  t imel ine inThe West Wing matc h esup with thatofther e al  wo r ld unt il ear l y  in the sixth s eason, whe ni tappears th a t a  y ear islost. F or ex a mple, t he filing  deadline  f or t h e  Ne w Hampshir e primar y, whichw ouldn or mally  fa ll inJa nua ry 20 06, ap p ear s inan epi so de air ing i nJanuary2005.

In an interview,  JohnWells  st ated that  th e  se ries bega n on e and a ha lfyea rs in toB artle t'sf ir stt erm a nd t h at the el e ct ion t oreplace Bar t l e t w as be ing held a t th e correct time. H o wever, the sea son1 epi sod e  "He  S hall from Time  to  T i m e" shows  t he preparat ions for  B a rtlet 's fir st reg ular St a t eo f theUnio n a ddress, w hic hw ould oc cu ro ne yea r in to  his p reside n cy.I n  the Season 1 ep isode " Let B a rtl et Be  B artlet" ,  Jos h Lyman as ks Toby Zie gler,"Our  seco nd year  i sn't g oin gmuch bette r  than our  firs t year,  i s it ?"
In th e se a s on 5epis od e " Access",i t  i s  m en t ion ed t hat t he  Cas ey Creekc risis oc cur r ed duri ng  Ba r t let'sf ir s t  term andgot 
 mentioned_as being_Labor Secretary in the_administration that_was_in office_in_1993 and 1995._In the first_season, an outgoing Supreme_Court Justice tells_Jed_Bartlet that he had been wanting to retire for five years, but waited "for_a_Democrat" because_he_did_not want a Republican President_to replace him with a_conservative justice_(the Justice then tells President Bartlet, snidely, "Instead,_I_got you."). The_season four episode "Debate Camp" features a flashback to_the days just before Bartlet's inauguration,_as Donna Moss_meets_with_her Republican predecessor, Jeff_Johnson. In season six Leo says_that the Republicans have been "out_of power for eight years", and Republicans_at their convention say "eight (years)_is enough".

The passage of time_on the_show relative to that of_the real world_is somewhat_ambiguous when marked_by events of shorter duration (such_as votes and_campaigns). Sorkin noted in a DVD_commentary_track for the_second-season_episode_"18th and_Potomac" that he_tried_to avoid_tying_The West Wing to a specific_period_of time. Despite this, real years are_occasionally mentioned, usually in_the_context of elections and_President Bartlet's two-term administration.

The show's_presidential elections are held in 2002_and 2006,_which are_the years of the midterm elections in reality (these dates come_from the fact that in the_season 2 episode "17_People", Toby_mentions_2002 as the_year_of the_President's reelection campaign). The election timeline in_The West_Wing matches up with that of_the real world until_early_in the sixth season, when it_appears that a year is lost._For example, the filing deadline_for_the_New Hampshire primary, which would_normally fall in January 2006, appears_in an episode_airing in January 2005.

In an interview, John_Wells_stated that the series began one_and_a half years into Bartlet's first_term_and_that the election to replace_Bartlet was being held at the_correct time. However, the season 1 episode "He Shall_from Time to_Time" shows the preparations for_Bartlet's_first_regular State of the Union address, which would occur one_year into_his presidency. In_the Season 1 episode "Let Bartlet Be Bartlet", Josh Lyman_asks Toby Ziegler, "Our second year isn't_going much better than our first year, is it?"

In the season_5 episode "Access", it is mentioned that the_Casey Creek crisis occurred during Bartlet's first_term and got