Constituency Preference and Potential Economic Gain

Abstract

This article evaluates two aspects of constituency interest on legislative voting, the expressed preferences of a constituency on a policy, and the economic costs and benefits constituents would derive from a policy, using data from U.S. Senate voting on the 1972 Family Assistance Plan (FAP). When considered simultaneously, neither constituency opinion nor FAP's projected economic impact reveals a significant effect. The modest importance of constituency opinion in voting on this issue contrasts with earlier research findings. The most important factors in senators' voting on FAP were their ideological orientation and party affiliation. These results are consistent with case studies of the FAP policy process and with expectations regarding the decision process in redistributive policy areas.