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This lecture delves into David Mayhew's central argument regarding the behavior of Congress members, asserting that their primary focus is on re-election. It examines the institutional structures of Congress, such as weak parties and strong committees, that reflect this focus. Members engage in activities like advertising, credit claiming, and position taking to cater to constituents. The lecture also presents predictions on policy-making and electoral strategies, addressing potential complications if members encounter diverse voter preferences within their districts.
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Institutional Analysis Lecture 4: The electoral connection and the organization of Congress
Mayhew’s Central Argument • Hypothesis • Mayhew are that members of Congress spend the bulk of their time enagaged in reelection activities. • Moreover, the institutional arrangements of Congress—weak parties, strong committees, reflect members’ reelection goals.
Assumptions • Members want reelection • They may be interested in other things like making good policy, prestige, power or fame. • But they first have to get elected. • Constituents homogeneous • Can clearly define a single preference across issues.
Activities • Advertising— • Creating a favorable image of self • Emphasis is place on personal qualities • Credit Claiming • Member can personally claim responsibility for government action • Policy is divisible • Members actively intervene on the behalf of constituents—I.e. social security check, veterans benefits. • Position Taking • Public statements on policies, like roll call votes
Legislative organization • Offices • Mailings • Other office resources • Staff members • Franking Privileges • Committees • Good platform for position taking • Particularized benefits • Allows for a division of labor among members • Political Parties • Parties help overcome collective action Problem they help build coalitions
Predictions • Policy should be universalistic • Deference to committees • Political parties weak; they only facilitate logrolling. • Members maximize reelection by catering to the median voter in district • by picking policies, advertising and claiming credit to ensure a majority of votes.
Test predictions • Maximize reelection by catering to median voter • Problem • What if members of Congress do not have a single set of constituents but many as suggested by Fenno • Would this prediction still hold?
Median Voter _ X Median Voter
Tension between general and primary elections Median primary Voter Median Voter _ _ Xp X
What happens to members’ election strategies? • How will they seek reelection? • How will they organize Congress to pass laws • What will policies look like?
