Constituency, party, and representation in congres

Benjamin I. Page; Robert Y. Shapiro; Paul W. Gronke; Robert M. Rosenberg

doi:10.1086/268880

Constituency, party, and representation in congres

Benjamin I. Page, Robert Y. Shapiro, Paul W. Gronke, Robert M. Rosenberg

Political Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

74 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using congressional districts as primary sampling units, the 1978 National Election Survey provides improved (though still imperfect) measures of district opinion. Together with Census data on district demography, roll call voting scales, and information on congressmen's party and personal characteristics, they permit a new examination of representation in Congress. Using these data we found a high degree of representation of district opinion on social welfare and (surprisingly) on women's issues, nearly as much on racial issues, and much less on law and order or on abortion. District demography and congressmen's party add substantially to the explanation of roll call votes. There is not, however, much “responsible party” representation in Congress. Future representation studies must face questions about the complex interplay among these factors, including reciprocal influences.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	741-756
Number of pages	16
Journal	Public Opinion Quarterly
Volume	48
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/268880
State	Published - 1984

Funding

Benjamin 1. Page holds the Frank C. Erwin, Jr., Chair in Government at the University of Texas, Austin, and is a Research Associate at the National Opinion Research Center. Robert Y. Shapiro is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Columbia University and an NORC Research Associate. Paul W. Gronke is a doctoral student at the University of Michigan. Robert M. Rosenberg is Deputy Director of the State of Florida Division of Pari-Mutual Wagering. The authors wish to thank Calvin Jones for collaborating in this research and Eric Smith, Bruce Peterson, Robert Erikson, Lutz Erbring, Eleanor Singer, and the anonymous reviewers for offering helpful comments. Kathy Bawn provided capable assistance. The research was supported by the National Opinion Research Center and the Social Science Division of the University of Chicago. The 1978 American National Election Study data were made available by the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research; the responsibility for analysis and interpretation is the authors'.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Communication
History
Sociology and Political Science
General Social Sciences
History and Philosophy of Science

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1086/268880

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abstract = "Using congressional districts as primary sampling units, the 1978 National Election Survey provides improved (though still imperfect) measures of district opinion. Together with Census data on district demography, roll call voting scales, and information on congressmen's party and personal characteristics, they permit a new examination of representation in Congress. Using these data we found a high degree of representation of district opinion on social welfare and (surprisingly) on women's issues, nearly as much on racial issues, and much less on law and order or on abortion. District demography and congressmen's party add substantially to the explanation of roll call votes. There is not, however, much “responsible party” representation in Congress. Future representation studies must face questions about the complex interplay among these factors, including reciprocal influences.",

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note = "Funding Information: Benjamin 1. Page holds the Frank C. Erwin, Jr., Chair in Government at the University of Texas, Austin, and is a Research Associate at the National Opinion Research Center. Robert Y. Shapiro is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Columbia University and an NORC Research Associate. Paul W. Gronke is a doctoral student at the University of Michigan. Robert M. Rosenberg is Deputy Director of the State of Florida Division of Pari-Mutual Wagering. The authors wish to thank Calvin Jones for collaborating in this research and Eric Smith, Bruce Peterson, Robert Erikson, Lutz Erbring, Eleanor Singer, and the anonymous reviewers for offering helpful comments. Kathy Bawn provided capable assistance. The research was supported by the National Opinion Research Center and the Social Science Division of the University of Chicago. The 1978 American National Election Study data were made available by the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research; the responsibility for analysis and interpretation is the authors'.",

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Constituency, party, and representation in congres

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ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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