Date of Award
Spring 2021
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Department/Major
Political Science
First Advisor
Dr. Julia Hellwege
Second Advisor
Dr. Ed Gerrish
Third Advisor
Dr. Shane Nordyke
Keywords
Majority-Party, Gender, Legislative Effectiveness, Productivity, Congress
Abstract
This thesis examines differences in productivity levels from members of the 93rd to 115th United States House of Representatives with respect to majority-party status and gender. Using data from the Center of Effective Lawmaking, the study conducts a basic regression model using productivity as a function of whether or not the individual is a majority party member and their gender. Although the traditional measure of legislator success is legislative effectiveness, these measures take into account institutional differences. Productivity is measured by the amount of bills an individual legislator introduces and is dependent on the individual, not institutional approval that favors male legislators. Consistent with expectations, the regression models find strong patterns that majority-party status is, on average, predictive of productivity. However, within majority-party membership, there is no different in productivity between gender. These results could set a new standard for how we measure legislative success; rather than measuring success based on institutional approval, it is important to consider individual productivity as well.
Recommended Citation
Occhipinto, Carissa M., "Majority-Party Status and Gender: Understanding Productivity in the U.S. House of Representatives" (2021). Honors Thesis. 147.
https://red.library.usd.edu/honors-thesis/147