state legislatures - Answers bicameral legislatures in all states but NE
inherent conflict between... - Answers representative function and lawmaking role
functions of state legislatures - Answers lawmaking and representative institutions
lawmaking institution - Answers "wholesale" politics
enactment of statutory laws
(state) constitutional amendments, appointments
budgetary powers
oversight authority
representative institution - Answers "retail politics"
represent interests of constituents
bring $$$ to district
constituent services
differences between representatives and "regular folks" - Answers upper middle class
75% hold college degrees
overrepresented occupations are business, law, and real estate
ambitious, successful w/ flexibility, contacts, and high paying jobs
2 types of representation - Answers descriptive representation and substantive representation
substantive representation - Answers representing interests of groups
representative doesn't have to belong to group
descriptive representation - Answers mirroring politically relevant characteristics
ex. age, sex, race, education, etc
is a no-go
demographics of representation in the states - Answers women, African Americans, hispanics,
asians, and native Americans all have less representation
in substantive representation - Answers legislators are linked to constituents by parties,
, elections, & interest groups
it is based on communication
what are the 3 roles that a state representative might fill when making decisions as a member
of the legislature? - Answers delegate, trustee, and politico
delegate - Answers mirror preferences of constitutents
trustee - Answers use own judgement to make policy choices
politico - Answers balance both trustee and delegate roles
institutionalization of state legislatures - Answers development of rules, patterns of behavior,
and organizational structures
how might the legislative process become more institutionalized? - Answers stability of
membership
increase in staff, salaries; extended internal operations
increased complexity of rules and procedures
level of professionalism - Answers lay (citizen), professional, or hybrid
professional - Answers full-time; full salary
longer sessions
can serve many terms
more staff, legislative, & constituent services
lay - Answers (citizen)
volunteers; little salary
shorter sessions
serve 1-2 terms
what is incumbency? - Answers run when they are expected to win and retire when they are
expected to lose
what is meant by legislative institutionalization? - Answers development of rules, patterns of
behavior, and organizational structures
how professionalized is the Texas state legislature? - Answers hybrid