Understanding Congressional Reform: Lessons From the Seventies

Authors

Rafael Gely, University of Missouri School of LawFollow
Asghar Zardkoohi, University of TexasA & M Mays BusinessFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Summer 1998

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine voting behavior of representatives when faced with dual constraints (constituents back home and the leadership) as compared to one constraint (constituents back home). An ambitious goal of the study would have been to examine the effects of both sets of reforms. However, there are two reasons for not using the 1995 reforms in our empirical examinations. First, not enough time has passed to fully observe the effect of term limits on voting behavior. Second, and more importantly, the leadership, whose power it was to impose a constraint on a representative's promotional opportunities, lost power (due to ethical issues surrounding the Speaker) soon after implementing the reforms.

Recommended Citation

Rafael Gely & Asghar Zardkoohi, Understanding Congressional Reform: Lessons from the Seventies, 35 Harv. J. on Legis. 509 (1998)