Broken Record
The Origins and Evolution of Recorded Voting in the U.S. Congress
Yay or Nay? Exploring how roll call voting has contributed to political polarization
Description
Since the 1920s, the roll call voting record has influenced American politics. Using recorded votes, candidates attack electoral opponents, interest groups attempt to drum up financial or electoral support for their preferred candidates, scholars test theories of legislative behavior, and the media characterizes the ideological leanings of Congress. Despite this, there has not been a systematic attempt to document the changing usage of the roll call record. Michael S. Lynch and Anthony J. Madonna have undertaken a massive, multiyear data collection effort that culminated in four new datasets covering from 1905 to the contemporary period. Using data on approximately 120,000 amendments, 60,000 roll call votes, 2,000 important enactments, and 8,000 special rules from 1905 to 2015, the authors demonstrate how the roll call recording system has evolved.
Consistent with the Founders’ skepticism of the impact of recorded voting in Congress, Broken Record shows that the contemporary roll call voting record includes far more meaningless position-taking and procedural roll call votes than it did during earlier congresses. The book argues that the removal of practical barriers to roll calls, internal changes to legislative procedures, and increased electoral competitiveness have led to more roll call votes on proposals sponsored by more extreme members. In addition to policy making being more difficult, increased roll call voting has played a substantial role in artificially increasing observed levels of polarization. This book argues that solving polarization requires a more nuanced set of solutions than simply replacing legislators; it will require increased public education about how Congress operates and specific procedural reforms.
Michael S. Lynch is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Georgia.
Anthony J. Madonna is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Georgia.
Reviews
“Voting is arguably a member of Congress’s most important act. Yet, until now, there has been no systematic study of why votes are public or when members go on record. In this well-researched book, Lynch and Madonna answer these questions and reveal how these choices shape our view of the first branch.”
- Michael Crespin, University of Oklahoma
“Broken Record is an essential contribution to the literature on the U.S. Congress. While the roll call record has formed the foundation of congressional studies for decades, Lynch and Madonna masterfully illuminate the crucial—yet often overlooked—process behind how the record is generated. Their insightful analysis reveals that understanding the creation of the roll call record is key to truly comprehending the inner workings of Congress. Compelling and meticulously researched, Broken Record is indispensable for scholars of American legislative politics.”
- Jason M. Roberts, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
“Lynch and Madonna offer an accessible and compelling journey through the intricate labyrinth of congressional rules to argue that roll call votes rarely provide the open transparency for which they are intended. Summing up: Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty; professionals.”
- R. J. Gelm, Choice
Among the best features of Broken Record is the innovative use of original data to better understand changes to the recorded votes in Congress over time. This book makes a substantial contribution to existing research in this area with important implications.
- Michael J Berry, University of Colorado Denver