LEGISLATIVE SOCIALIZATION AND INTERBRANCH RIVALRY - CONSEQUENCES OF DIVIDED PARTY GOVERNMENT

This article tests the hypothesis that members of Congress are sociali zed into certain attitudes concerning interbranch comity or rivalry ea rly during their tenures in office. Specifically, utilizing a multivar iate regression model, we test the claim made by several scholars and former presidents that members who initially serve in Congress under a president of the other party will be less likely than their colleague s to support subsequent presidents of their own party. Our findings pr ovide little support for a ''socialized to opposition'' mentality and, in fact, indicate that members socialized under an opposition preside nt are modestly more amenable to leadership from presidents of their o wn party.