UNFASTENING THE ELECTORAL CONNECTION - THE BEHAVIOR OF UNITED-STATES REPRESENTATIVES WHEN REELECTION IS NO LONGER A FACTOR

While elections are essential to a democracy, it is commonly believed that the desire to secure re-election causes legislators to engage in many undesirable activities. In this note, by comparing the behavior o f U.S. representatives who have chosen to run for reelection with thos e representatives who have decided not to do so, we provide evidence o f the precise activities induced by electoral concerns. We find that e lections cause members to go back to the district more often, to emplo y more staff assistants, to attend to roll-call voting more fastidious ly, and to be more legislatively active. While these activities are no doubt consistent with the wishes of most constituents, the desire for reelection also encourages members to introduce what is apparently fr ivolous legislation on topics of little familiarity to the member. Tho se members who are not running for reelection, on the other hand, are more likely to have a successful and tightly focused legislative agend a.