A Simple Theory of Constituency Influence

Abstract

[Introduction] When combined, the set of ideas advanced in Chapter 2 constitute a highly simplified model of a representative's world as he ponders whether to cast a yea or nay. In this chapter we will ascertain how model representatives would behave in several of the contingencies which 1night arise in this model world. Three constituency configurations are examined. First, we will analyze the voting decision given a consensual or homogeneous district; i.e., a situation in which the groups who possibly care about the issue would agree on what the representative should do. Such homoegeneity seldom will hold across all issues in a real world district, but on particular issues it is probably often the case that only one group cares. Additionally, the fairly common "God, Motherhood, and Apple Pie" votes no doubt find all significant constituency groups in accord.

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