The United States Congress: A Re-election Machine

What kinds of legislative behavior can MC’s engage in to help their re-election chances?

General representational behaviors Visiting the district Communicating with constituents (media, newsletters, advertising) Legislative behaviors Voting Introducing bills Working in committee Overseeing the executive Purely Electoral Behaviors Raising Money Campaigning

BehaviorElectoral Reward Raising MoneyBetter campaign, more votes

BehaviorElectoral Reward Raising MoneyBetter campaign, more votes CampaigningMore votes

BehaviorElectoral Reward Raising MoneyBetter campaign, more votes CampaigningMore votes Visiting the districtAdvertising  more votes

BehaviorElectoral Reward Raising MoneyBetter campaign, more votes CampaigningMore votes Visiting the districtAdvertising  more votes Communicating with constituents Advertising  more votes

BehaviorElectoral Reward Voting on the floorVote with constituents, don’t miss too many votes  don’t antagonize a potential opponent

BehaviorElectoral Reward Voting on the floorVote with constituents, don’t miss too many votes  don’t antagonize a potential opponent Introducing billsLook like you’re working hard, without putting in all that much effort  placate active publics

BehaviorElectoral Reward Voting on the floorVote with constituents, don’t miss too many votes  don’t antagonize a potential opponent Introducing billsLook like you’re working hard, without putting in all that much effort  placate active publics Working in committee Can be a lot of effort, might be able to claim credit for some piece of a bill, someday  one more line on the website???

BehaviorElectoral Reward Overseeing the executive Placates extremely attentive publics; extreme publics, but electoral reward???

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 Not check and/or balance the executive branch

CQ election map