Congressional representation requires that legislators be aware of the interests of constituents in their districts and behave in ways that reflect the wishes of their constituents. But of the many constituents in their districts, who do legislators in Washington actually see, and who goes unseen? Moreover, how do these perceptions of constituents shape legislative behavior? This book answers these fundamental questions by developing a theory of legislative perception that leverages insights from cognitive psychology. Legislators are shown to see only a few constituents in their district on a given policy, namely those who donate to their campaigns and contact the legislative office, and fail to see many other relevant constituents. Legislators are also subsequently more likely to act on behalf of the constituents they see, while important constituents not seen by legislators are rarely represented in the policymaking process.

Why legislators in the US House see only a few active and resource-rich constituents in their district.

About the Author
Kristina Miler is currently Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Illinois. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. Her research has been published in the Journal of Politics, Legislative Studies Quarterly and Political Psychology. She has received funding from the National Science Foundation and the Dirksen Congressional Center, among other sources.

Reviews
'Kristina Miler ... has produced a remarkable and intriguing book.' 49th Parallel



Book Information
ISBN 9780521765404
Author Kristina C. Miler
Format Hardback
Page Count 224
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 440g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 158mm * 18mm