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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.
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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?
