Legislative Preferences and Legislative Agenda Control

1. Legislative Goals

1. Prestige and the value of higher office

2. Public policy

3. Reelection

4. Unified control of government— serve in the majority party

The goals induce preferences over policies

Legislators may act as if they favor a specific set of policies for any and all the reasons listed above

2. How a Bill Becomes a Law

1. State bill is introduced

2. Committee hearings

3. Floor action

   1. If passed, sent to the other house: Committee hearings

   2. Floor action

      1. If passed with amendments: referred to original house

         1. If original house concurs: bill goes to the governor

      2. if passed without amendments: bill goes to the governor

         1. If no veto: bill becomes a law

3. Puzzle: Why Doesn’t Policy Reflect Preferences of Median Legislator?

If the median legislator’s ideal point is unbeatable against any status quo, why doesn’t the law simply embody that position?

Explanation 1: Constitutional Structure:

1. Bicameralism— the two chambers might disagree

   1. Like if the median of the two chambers have opposing parties

2. Veto— the president must be onboard with Congress or Congress will need 2/3 vote to override the presidential veto

Explanation 2: Procedural

1. The filibuster (effective 60 vote threshold in senate for most legislation)

   1. Senators conduct a filibuster and suspend the legislation indefinitely until 60% of the vote is reached to end debate

2. Agenda control— what bills get a vote or attention; the speaker has control

4. Agenda Control

Assumptions:

1. Unidimensional policy space

2. Euclidean preferences

3. The legislator with median preference votes for proposed legislation if different

The median point (M) beats all alternatives. If a bill is under consideration: choice between B and the status quo (Q), allowing amendments will eventually move more towards point M

Open Rule: unlimited amendments permitted

• With no agenda control, everything will constantly be stuck along M

Closed Rule: no amendments permitted

• “Up or down vote” — either B or Q will be chosen since you can’t get M exactly with no amendments

• If B is closer to M than Q, it will pass; otherwise, Q will win

5. The Game: Agenda Control

• There is status quo Q

• Party leadership decides whether to propose legislation or “gatekeep”

  • If gatekeep, Q is the outcome

• If proposal occurs, floor amendments follow

Open Rule Game

• Any proposal put forward will be amended to M

• Leaderships effective choice between M or Q

  • If B is closer to M than Q (2B-M), B will be proposed

Closed Rule Game

• There is Q

• Leadership proposes legislation, effective choice between B and Q

• If B is closer to M than Q, the bill will pass but stay at Q if not

• M will only support bills that make it at least as well off as Q