Party and Constituency Influence on Procedural and Final Passage Voting in the U.S. House

Abstract

Most analyses of congressional voting, whether theoretical or empirical, treat all roll call votes in the same way. We argue that such approaches mask considerable variation in voting behavior across different categories of votes. An examination of all recorded roll call votes in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2008 reveals that members’ voting behavior on procedural and final passage matters have become increasingly differentiated. We show that party has become increasingly important relative to constituency in dictating members’ voting behavior, especially on procedural votes. These trends can account for much of the partisan polarization that has occurred during this time period.