The Senator�s Strategic Use of Time in Representation

Abstract

Abstract:Remaining time to reelection serves as a constraint and an opportunity for senators to adapt constituency preferences for their legislative decision making. The relatively long length of terms may allow senators to change their ideological positions over the course of their terms. Given long terms of six-years, senators may be able to seek first to vote in favor of party discipline and personal policy motivation and then to take a strategy to keep step with constituency preferences as their reelections approach. This study finds that the long length of the term serves as an opportunity for senators to seek to achieve their preferred policy and maximize the chances of reelection.