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Citizen Participation and Congressional Responsiveness: New Evidence that Participation Matters
Author(s) -
Martin Paul S.,
Claibourn Michele P.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
legislative studies quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.728
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1939-9162
pISSN - 0362-9805
DOI - 10.1111/lsq.12003
Subject(s) - voter turnout , turnout , political science , public administration , community participation , public relations , voting , sociology , politics , socioeconomics , law
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.