Why Representatives Are Ideologists Though Voters Are Not

In: Public choice, Volume 61, Issue 1, p. 29-39

Abstract

Though few voters appear to hold consistent ideological views, the roll call votes of congressmen & senators can be well predicted by ideological terms. An explanation for this puzzle is that ideology allows candidates to succintly explain their views. Because it is difficult to explain detailed positions to voters, a candidate who presents his position in ideological terms may be able to defeat a candidate who supports a set of issue positions that would, in toto, be preferred by a majority of well-informed voters were the voters aware of all the views of that candidate. This effect can be a powerful one. Moreover, ideology may be a source of electoral stability, & a means of providing regularity & structure to elite political debate. 1 Figure, 30 References. HA