This document discusses the concepts of descriptive representation and substantive representation. Descriptive representation refers to a representative sharing identity characteristics with their constituency, like women representing women. Substantive representation means a constituency's policy concerns are adequately represented. The document examines whether descriptive representation leads to substantive representation for women and how women representatives navigate institutional constraints in Congress, like committee systems and lack of leadership positions. It outlines Fenno's model of concentric circles of representation and the role of committees. It summarizes the measures, results and conclusions of a study finding gender predicts sponsorship of women's issues legislation, especially for Democrats, and committee constraints influence floor activity. It raises questions about expectations for women representatives and how constraints may shape career building.
4. Fenno and Concentric Circles Inner= close friends Primary= those that get member on a party ticket Re-election= gets member elected at the general District= everyone The District Re-election Constituency Primary Constituency Inner Circle or Intimates
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Editor's Notes
When we begin to translate participation into electoral politics, the end of the day focus is on representation. That is what our elected officials, especially in the Congress, are supposed to be doing.
Who can explain how these constrain the ability of women to represent women’s issues
The typical way of thinking about representation and constituencies in political science Inner= close friends Primary= those that get you on a party ticket Re-election= gets you elected at the general District= everyone Why might this not be enough when we start to be concerned about women in government?
I am discussing her concrete results, and not really focusing on her predictions of whether more women would make a difference. Women across the board are more likely than men in their party to sponsor women’s issue bills Makes sense that men are more likely to sponsor social welfare bills since they could be used to claim credit broadly since the category includes health and education issues Even controlling for other variables that could influence bill sponsorship, women in both parties still remain statistically significant predictor of the likelihood of sponsoring women’s issue legislation. Additionally, women are steady predictor of sponsoring feminist bills, while Democratic women are the most likely to propose social welfare bill, controlling for other factors. How do we explain Republican Men in the 104 th ?