Voting in Congress Why Do Representatives Vote the Way They Do? Conceptions of the Role Theories of Voting Other Factors

Conceptions of the Role Delegate – supposed to do what district wants Trustee – use their best judgment on issues without regard to preferences of district What are the arguments for each? Can one be a pure delegate or a pure trustee?

Theories of Voting Representational – members want to get reelected and therefore vote to please their constituents; seems to prevail on highly visible when district fairly united Organizational – members respond to cues provided by their fellow members; party is the single most important force, but intra-party and state caucus membership is also important Attitudinal – members vote in tune with their personal ideologies

Other Factors Reliance on staff (staffs control info and access and provide intellectual backup) Interest group pressure Presidential pressure (reward and punishment) Campaign contributors Media