Estimating party influence in congressional roll-call voting

Senate. Over the post-war period, party influence in the House occurs espec ially often on key occurs especially often on key procedural votes-the rule on a bill, motions to cut off debate, and motions to recommit. In terms of substantive issues, party influence appears most frequently on budget reso lutions, tax policy, social security, social welfare policy, and the nation al debt limit, while it is relatively rare on moral and religious issues an d civil rights, and entirely absent on issues such as gun control. On some issues, such as agriculture, public works, and nuclear energy, party influe nce has varied dramatically over the period we study.