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

2. 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?

3. 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

4. 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