Representation, Continued

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 by forcing them to go before the voters on a regular basis to keep their job

When a member of Congress has to cast a roll-call vote, what does she think about?

How do members of Congress make decisions? DeterminativeMajor importance Minor importance Not important Constituents7%31%51%12% Fellow MC’s5%42%28%25% Party leaders0%5%32%63% Interest groups1%25%40%35% Administration4%14%21%61% Staff1%8%26%66%

Who does an MC worry most about? Potential opponents (“Instigators”) Attentive and Inattentive publics

Complexity of Interest Group influence Member of Congress Constituents Party Other members Interest Group Campaign Contributions & lobbying Going public Campaign contributions / revolving door loyalty

Research conclusions PAC contributions don’t buy votes on issues that constituents are aware of, or party cares about PAC Contributions may influence… committee votes on amendments level of member activity tax and regulatory bills (low profile) more than spending bills

Attentive and Inattentive Publics Attentive Publics: citizens who know about an issue and have firm preferences about how Congress should act Inattentive Publics: have neither firm policy preferences nor knowledge of what Congress is doing

So when should a member of Congress pay attention to an attentive public, and when should she pay attention to an inattentive public?

So what do they do to get re-elected? Explain their votes Avoid a “string of votes” Advertise Credit-Claim (& provide particularized benefits) Position-Take Allocate resources

So what do they do to get re-elected? Allocate scarce resources –Staff –Budget –Time

So does Congress do a good job representing our collective preferences? Does it do a good job governing?

Given re-election motive, Congress as an institution will… Be an ombudsman Expresses constituency preferences, not necessarily national preferences (common good) Pass legislation that contains particularized benefits Pass legislation that will not impose large, direct costs on constituents

Given re-election motive, Congress as an institution will… Pass legislation that embodies a good “end” even if means are poorly tailored to achieve it Balance attentive with inattentive publics on high profile issues Serve attentive publics on low profile issues Express symbolic policy preferences, not necessarily follow through