The authors seek to explain the membership of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus (CHRC). Focusing on human rights violations abroad, the Caucus offers few incentives for representatives to join this organization, yet it consistently has a large membership. Drawing on theoretical literature on Congress and interest groups, the authors argue that members' policy motivation and the subsidizing role of national and transnational human rights interest groups account for the decision to join. Documentary and interview evidence for House members in the 107th and 108th Congresses support these arguments. The results have substantive and theoretical implications for the study of the CHRC, the interactions between members of Congress and interest groups, and the study of congressional caucuses generally.
Ainsworth, Scott H.1997. The role of legislators in the determination of interest group influence in legislatures. Legislative Studies Quarterly22:517-34.
2.
———. 2002. Analyzing interest groups: Group influence on people and politics. New York: Norton.
3.
Amnesty International.2004. Issue briefing: Join the caucus. September 17. http://www.amnestyusa.org/regions/americas/ . Barone, Michael, and Richard E. Cohen, eds. 2001. The almanac of American politics 2002. With Charles E. Cook, Jr.Washington, DC: National Journal Group.
4.
———, eds. 2003. The almanac of American politics 2004. Washington, DC: National Journal Group.
5.
Baumgartner, Frank R., Beth L. Leech, and Christine Mahoney .2003. The co-evolution of groups and government. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, August 28-31, Philadelphia.
6.
Census '90. 1992. 1990 census of population and housing (various volumes). U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, Bureau of the Census . Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
7.
Clinton, Joshua, Simon Jackman, and Douglas Rivers.2004. The statistical analysis of roll call data. American Political Science Review98:355-70.
8.
Fenno, Richard F., Jr.1973. Congressmen in committees. Boston: Little, Brown.
9.
Grenzke, Janet M.1989. Shopping in the congressional supermarket: The currency is complex. American Journal of Political Science33:1-24.
10.
Hall, Richard L., and Alan V. Deardorff .2006. Lobbying as a legislative subsidy. American Political Science Review100 (February): 69-84.
11.
Hall, Richard L., and Frank W. Wayman .1990. Buying time: Moneyed interests and the mobilization of bias in congressional committees. American Political Science Review84:797-820.
12.
Hammond, Susan Webb.2001. Congressional caucuses in national policy making. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
13.
Hansen, John Mark. 1991. Gaining access. Chicago : University of Chicago Press.
14.
Keck, Margaret E., and Kathryn Sikkink.1998. Activists beyond borders: Advocacy networks in international politics. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
15.
Leech, Beth L., Frank R. Baumgartner, Timothy M. La Pira, and Nicholas A. Semanko .2005. Drawing lobbyists to Washington: Government activity and the demand for advocacy. Political Research Quarterly58:19-30.
16.
Mayhew, David.1974. Congress: The electoral connection. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
17.
McCormick, James M.2005. American foreign policy and process. 4th ed. Belmont, CA: ThomsonWadsworth.
18.
McCormick, James M., and Neil J. Mitchell .1989. Human rights and foreign assistance: An update. Social Science Quarterly70:969-79.
19.
Poe, Steven C.1992. Human rights and economic assistance under Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. American Journal of Political Science36:147-67.
20.
Power, Samantha.2002. A problem from hell: America and the age of genocide. New York: Basic Books.
21.
Richardson, Sula P.1995. Legislative service organizations: A historical overview . Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, Report JK 1052K, March 1. Washington, DC: Library of Congress.
22.
———. 2001. Informal congressional groups and members organizations: Selected questions and responses. CRS Report for Congress. Congressional Research Service RL30301. Updated March 7. Washington, DC: Library of Congress.
23.
U.S. Census Bureau.2003. 108th congressional district summary files, 2000 Census. March. CD-ROM. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Commerce.
