Jonathan Katz|Brian R. Sala
Careerism, Committee Assignments, and the Electoral Connection
California Institute of Technology|University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
scholars agree members congress strongly motivated desire reelection assumption implies members congress adopt institutions rules norms behavior part serve electoral interests direct tests electoral connection rare however significant exogenous changes electoral environment difficult identify develop test electoral rationale norm committee assignment property rights examine committee tenure patterns major exogenous change electoral systemthe states rapid adoption australian ballot laws early 1890s ballot changes argue induced new personal vote electoral incentives contributed adoption modern congressional institutions property rights committee assignments demonstrate marked increase assignment stability 1892 time majority states put new ballot laws force earlier previous studies suggested