Latino Representation on Congressional Websites

Abstract

Do Latino representatives enhance or “enlarge” Latino representation (Walsh 2002)? I examined the content of websites posted by members of the 110th Congress and found that the websites of Latino representatives are not more accessible to Spanish‐speaking users than the websites of non‐Latino representatives, nor are the sites more likely to exhibit pro‐immigrant positions or offer immigration assistance. The websites of Latino representatives are, however, more likely to present Latino perspectives. Latino representatives enhance Latino representation in this forum by enlarging or broadening the presence of a Latino voice in policy discussion.

Minority Chairs and Congressional Attention to Minority Issues: The Effect of Descriptive Representation in Positions of Institutional Power

“…Research examines whether descriptive representation affects responsiveness to minority interests in numerous behaviors, including roll call voting (Hero and Tolbert, ; Kerr and Miller, ; Canon, ; Tate, ; Knoll, ), bill sponsorship and co‐sponsorship (Canon, ; Bratton, ; Wilson, ), communication patterns (Canon, ; Wilson, ), committee participation (Gamble, ; Minta, ), district activities (Swain, ; Canon, ; Fenno, ), and other behaviors. Limited controversy withstanding, mostly in research on Latino representation, the consensus emerging from this literature is that descriptive representation enhances support for the interests of minority groups.…”

Descriptive Representation and Latino Interest Bill Sponsorship in Congress*

“…I control for committee membership 3 based on the expectation that involvement on committees that deal with policy areas of particular salience to Latinos such as immigration, healthcare, and education may be more likely to sponsor Latino interest bills given their enhanced abilities to advance their own legislative proposals (Bratton, 2006). I control for the political party (1=Democrat, 0=Republican) and ideological positioning 4 of representatives based on expectations that Democrats, as well as more liberal members of both parties, may be more likely to support the interests of Latinos (Hero and Tolbert, 1995; Bratton, 2006; Knoll, 2009; Wilson, 2009).…”

“…Compared with research on the representation of women and African Americans, studies of Latino representation have neglected behaviors that shape the qualities and scope of processes of deliberation and agenda setting. Two exceptions are Bratton's (2006) study of Latino representation in state legislatures and Wilson's (2009) study of Latino representation on congressional websites. Wilson's study suggests that through greater expression of ''Latino perspectives'' in Internet communications, Latino representatives exhibit an outreach style that differentiates them from non-Latino representatives, enhancing Latino representation.…”

“…(1 5 Democrat, 0 5 Republican) and ideological positioning 4 of representatives based on expectations that Democrats, as well as more liberal members of both parties, may be more likely to support the interests of Latinos (Hero and Tolbert, 1995;Bratton, 2006;Knoll, 2009;Wilson, 2009). I also employ several constituency-level control variables.…”

Descriptive Representatives, Party Status, and Latino Representation in Congressional Legislation

“…Descriptive representation, typically conceptualized as the presence of an important shared physical trait like sex, race or ethnicity between groups of constituents and elected officials, is often theorized to enhance the substantive representation of female, African American or Latino constituencies (Pitkin 1967;Mansbridge 1999;Williams 1998). A number of empirical studies suggest that female (Swers 2002;Wolbrecht 2002), African American (Canon 1999;Lublin 1997), and Latino (Huerta and Santos 2006;Kerr and Miller 1997;Lublin 1997;Wilson 2009) representatives are "on average . .…”