THE REPRESENTATIONAL EXPERIENCE - THE EFFECT OF STATE POPULATION ON SENATOR-CONSTITUENCY LINKAGES

Theory: Representation theory recognizes the importance of context in constraining the nature of relationships between representatives and c onstituents. Hypotheses: The representational experience of United Sta tes senators and their constituents is a function of the population si ze of their states. Methods: Analysis of Senate Election Study items o n contacts between senators and constituents, reasons for contacting, and respondents' evaluations is undertaken using state population as t he independent variable. Results: State population size is found to be a far more important variable in the representational relationship of senators and constituents than is the institutional setting (Senate v . House) or the point in the election cycle. Senators and constituents in small population states not only have closer relationships than th ose in populous states, but they are also closer than those of House m embers and constituents.