RepresentationRepresentation Descriptive Representation– being Descriptive Representation– being

represented by someone with same identity represented by someone with same identity characteristics as a particular voter or characteristics as a particular voter or constituency. I.E., women representing constituency. I.E., women representing women, Latinos representing Latinos, etc. women, Latinos representing Latinos, etc. Idea here is that numerical representation of Idea here is that numerical representation of different groups will better represent the different groups will better represent the interest of those groups.interest of those groups.

Substantive Representation– The policy Substantive Representation– The policy concerns of a particular constituency gets concerns of a particular constituency gets adequate representation, and any individual adequate representation, and any individual in office is capable of such representation. in office is capable of such representation. I.E., engaging women’s issuesI.E., engaging women’s issues

SwersSwers

Does descriptive representation Does descriptive representation actually lead to substantive actually lead to substantive representation?representation?

If so, how does effort of women to If so, how does effort of women to represent women interact with represent women interact with institutional constraints of Congress?institutional constraints of Congress? Reelection and constituency pressuresReelection and constituency pressures Committee system and the drive to Committee system and the drive to

develop expertisedevelop expertise Traditional lack of leadership positionsTraditional lack of leadership positions

Fenno and Concentric Fenno and Concentric CirclesCircles

The District

Re-election Constituency

Primary Constituency

Inner Circle or Intimates

Inner= close friendsPrimary= those that get member on a party ticketRe-election= gets member elected at the generalDistrict= everyone

Role of Committee in Role of Committee in CongressCongress

Winnowing billsWinnowing bills ““Workhorses” of Congress– Workhorses” of Congress–

Substantive consideration of bills Substantive consideration of bills Hearings and fact-findingHearings and fact-finding Development of expertiseDevelopment of expertise Majority of compromises made here Majority of compromises made here

Can push bills through the committee.Can push bills through the committee. Membership to committee is best predictor Membership to committee is best predictor

of bill passage.of bill passage. Leadership roles within the committee is an Leadership roles within the committee is an

even stronger predictoreven stronger predictor

Measures and ResultsMeasures and Results

Bill sponsorship as an indicator of Bill sponsorship as an indicator of descriptive as substantive descriptive as substantive representation of womenrepresentation of women She finds evidence that being a woman She finds evidence that being a woman

in either party is a predictor of in either party is a predictor of sponsoring women’s issue legislation, sponsoring women’s issue legislation, especially feminist legislation.especially feminist legislation.

The relationship does change based on The relationship does change based on which party is in office.which party is in office.

Co-sponsorship as an indicator of Co-sponsorship as an indicator of descriptive as substantive representation of descriptive as substantive representation of womenwomen Continue to see party, party control, and Continue to see party, party control, and

gender to have an influence on co-sponsorship gender to have an influence on co-sponsorship activity of women’s issuesactivity of women’s issues

Co-sponsorship of feminist issues has the Co-sponsorship of feminist issues has the strongest relationship to gender.strongest relationship to gender.

Committee amendments (through markups)Committee amendments (through markups) Jurisdictional constraintsJurisdictional constraints Gender is a clear predictor for sponsoring Gender is a clear predictor for sponsoring

feminist amendments, with Democratic women feminist amendments, with Democratic women being more likely to sponsor such amendments being more likely to sponsor such amendments than Republican womenthan Republican women

Floor ActivityFloor Activity Women do not have as much influence Women do not have as much influence

here. Gender is not the same kind of here. Gender is not the same kind of predictor it is for other kinds of activity. predictor it is for other kinds of activity.

Being on the committee from which the Being on the committee from which the women’s issue bill originated is a much women’s issue bill originated is a much more powerful predictor.more powerful predictor.

Exception is Democratic women in the Exception is Democratic women in the 104, explained by efforts to defeat 104, explained by efforts to defeat Contract with America provisions.Contract with America provisions.

Roll Call VotingRoll Call Voting Gender has the biggest impact for Gender has the biggest impact for

Republican voting patterns on women’s Republican voting patterns on women’s issuesissues

For Democratic women, being a For Democratic women, being a Democrat explains activity. When the Democrat explains activity. When the House is under Republican control, House is under Republican control, gender of Democratic women starts to gender of Democratic women starts to exhibit a slight effect on voting exhibit a slight effect on voting patterns.patterns.

Is the expectation of women to Is the expectation of women to represent women’s issues fair? Why represent women’s issues fair? Why or why not?or why not? Does the expectation force women to Does the expectation force women to

remain in a token position? Force remain in a token position? Force women into symbolic roles in Congress?women into symbolic roles in Congress?

Balancing the need of giving women a Balancing the need of giving women a voice versus allowing women to compete voice versus allowing women to compete equally in political careers.equally in political careers.

How do constraints effect the ability to How do constraints effect the ability to build a political career?build a political career?

Does descriptive representation actually Does descriptive representation actually lead to substantive representation?lead to substantive representation?

If so, how does the effort of women to If so, how does the effort of women to represent women interact with represent women interact with institutional constraints of Congress?institutional constraints of Congress?

Why consider abortion separately from Why consider abortion separately from other issues?other issues?

What impact do you think race What impact do you think race considerations would have on her study?considerations would have on her study?