POL SCI 40 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Gerrymandering, Economic Efficiency
14 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
Senate can block legislations from reaching the floor for vote(?) Incumbent (current in office holders) reelection rates typically above 80% Above 90% if we include only incumbents who ran but lose. Incumbents rarely lose and usually reelected for both house/senate. Not all def of rep are compatible all the time. Other goals may conflict with rep: order/peace/stability, economic efficiency. Congress branch which is designed to be closest to the people. Although now influence more on president: no ability to formulate laws. Mayhew: members of congress behave like single minded seekers of reelection. Incumbents win because they work hard trying to win. Incumbents may have more control of their fate than challengers: yet, others believe that representation is weak. Madison: gov shd have common interest with the people. Congress should have immediate dependence on with people: frequent elections (solution) Only policy where dependence and sympathy can be secured. Gerrymandering: represent skewed and changeable districts. Nationalization of politics: voters thoughts on politics.
