1. Congressional Representation

2. Why would anyone run for Congress?
Given those motivations, how can we the people ensure that members of Congress pay attention to their constituents?

3. Why would someone run for Congress?
Patriotism
Power and ego
Policy goals
Political career ambition

4. How can you ensure that MC’s pay attention to their constituents?
Choose people of good character
Strict anti-corruption rules
Align their personal interests with the interests of their constituents

5. The re-election motive
Must get re-elected to further any other goals
Must act in ways that will get them re-elected

6. Mayhew’s argument
Assume that members of Congress only want to get re-elected.
Is that a valid assumption?
Does this assumption hold for both marginal and safe districts?

7. Median Voter Theorem (Downs)
Assume that Ideology and issue positions are normally distributed in the population
In a winner-take-all system, candidates will try to get one more vote than the other candidate by moving toward the center.
Goal is to win over the “median voter”

8. What could a member of Congress do to improve his or her re-election chances?
Make sure resource balance favors him/her
Advertising—create a favorable image
Credit claiming—especially particularized benefits
Position-taking

9. The incumbent advantage is at least partially due to the incumbent’s own efforts to get re-elected. Pleasing the constituents is a big part of those efforts.