Citizen Participation and Congressional Responsiveness

New Evidence that Participation Matters

Bibliographic Data

ID6301017
AuthorsP S Martins (0000-0003-0757-3189, University of Virginia), Paul S Martin (Development for the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy University of Virginia 235 McCormick Road Charlottesville VA 22904), Michele P Claibourn (Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service University of Virginia 2400 Old Ivy Road Charlottesville VA 22904), Michele Claibourn (0000-0002-5969-441X, University of Virginia)
Year2013
Volume38
Issue1
Pages59-81
Publication date2013-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLegislative Studies Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0362-9805 • E-ISSN: 1939-9162
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/lsq.12003
OpenAlexW1899270864
LanguageEN
Citations received14
References cited42

This article examines the influence of citizen participation, specifically voter turnout, on congressional policy responsiveness. We argue that higher levels of citizen participation signal to representatives greater surveillance of their actions by their constituents and, thus, a higher probability of sanction. Representatives respond to these signals by deploying resources in ways that provide better intelligence of district needs and preferences. As a consequence, higher citizen participation is rewarded with enhanced policy responsiveness

Community participation · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Turnout · Voter turnout · Voting · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Law · Policy Transfer and Learning · Public Administration · Public Policy and Administration Research

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