Latinos in the Legislative Process

Interests and Influence

Stella M. Rouse

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Year: 2013
• Print ISBN:
  9781107032705
• eBook ISBN:
  9781107070066
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: American Government
• Index: Politics & International Relations

In one of the only accounts of Latino legislative behavior, Stella M. Rouse examines how well the growing Latino population translates their increased presence into legislative influence. Latinos in the Legislative Process explores Latino representation by considering the role of ethnicity throughout the legislative process - from bill sponsorship, to committee deliberations, to floor votes - in seven state legislatures. Rouse first identifies issues that are priorities for Latinos and tells us whether a Latino political agenda exists. She then provides a theoretical framework for ethnicity in legislative behavior and outcomes. Rouse demonstrates that ethnicity is a complex dynamic that plays a variable role in the legislative process. Thus, Latino representation cannot be viewed monolithically.

Table of contents

• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• 1 Latinos and Their Growing Influence
• 2 In the “Interests” of Latinos
• 3 Agenda Setting
• 4 Latino Interests and Latino Representation in Legislative Committees
• 5 Vote Choice and Latino Representation
• 6 The Influence of Latino Representatives
• 7 Conclusion
• Appendix A ANES Issue Priority Questions
• Appendix B ANES Personal Importance Questions
• Appendix C Descriptive Statistics for Latino Legislators Interviewed
• Appendix D Frequency of Terms for Legislative Bills Introduced
• Appendix E Chapter 3 Bill Sponsorship Full Models
• Appendix F Chapter 4 Committee Participation Models
• Appendix G Sample of Bills Coded for Latino Saliency in Committee Deliberation and Roll Call Analysis
• Appendix H Sample Questionnaire from Interviews
• References
• Index