Congressional Make up and Voting

Parliament Candidates selected by the national party Voters choose between national parties, not multiple candidates Members of Parliament select the Prime Minister (Executive) Party members vote together on most issues Principal work is debate over national issues Members have very little actual power, very low pay, and few staff resources. Congress Candidates selected in primary elections Voters choose between multiple candidates from different parties Members do not select the chief executive. He is elected independently Party discipline is limited, not enduring Principal work is representation and action Members have a great deal of power, relatively high pay, and significant staff resources

Implications of Differences As a result of the differences the United States Legislative Branch is… Less unified More independent More representative of local issues Less organized More divided

Who is in Congress? Stats on the 112 th Congress (January 3 rd January 3 rd 2013) House has 362 men and 76 women Senate has 83 men and 17 women House has 361 Whites, 44 African-Americans, 25 Latinos, 7 Asians, and 1 Native American Senate has 96 Whites, 0 African-Americans, 2 Latinos, 2 Asians and 0 Native Americans

Gender and Race The House has a tendency to diversify faster than the Senate. Why? – Larger Size allows more opportunity – Racial breakdown of districts creates safer seats Members of color tend to advance to leadership positions faster than women due to greater seniority (safe districts, higher reelection rates)

Incumbency By the 1950s membership in Congress has become a career Most turnover seen after redistricting Incumbents still have greater electoral advantage

How do members of Congress vote? Representative View – Members vote to please constituents in order to get reelected Does not apply to all votes. Constituents must have a clear view and vote must be publicized. Applies in cases of civil rights and social welfare but not foreign policy. No clear relationship between those in safe seats or those in marginal seats.

How do members of Congress vote? Organizational View – Members vote based on cues from colleagues Applies when there is no vital constituent interests at stake Party is the principal cue Party members of the committee sponsoring the bill are most influential.

How do members of Congress vote? Attitudinal View – Members vote based on their ideology In the house the members ideology is more similar to the average voter. (WHY?) Senate is less representative of public opinion (WHY?) – Has it lead to a more polarized Congress? Since 1994 Congress has become more polarized along party lines. More hostility in Congress than in voters.