Emerging Influentials in State Legislatures: Women, Blacks, and Hispanics

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Although representation by women, blacks, and Hispanics in state legislatures has increased greatly in recent decades, the significance of these gains has not been systematically evaluated. Albert Nelson's study explores several important questions in this area: Does greater representation in fact result in proportionally greater influence in political parties and policy outcomes How do party affiliation, gender, and other variables affect the political fortunes of these groups And what is the impact of party affiliation on their turnover rates in legislatures Nelson scrutinizes the factors that influence minority and female incorporation into the legislative process, including opportunity and incentives, party affiliation, religion, employment, and cultural elements. He examines differences in legislative representation in the North and South. In addition he assesses party representation according to gender, minority group, and political affiliation and investigates differences in turnover rates between Democrats and Republicans. Nelson explains how these elements translate into practical political results in both legislatures and the power base provided by political parties. The final chapter provides an overview of Nelson's findings and identifies promising areas for continuing research. Based on a statistical analysis of state legislatures in the 1980s, this book will be a useful resource for scholars and students in political science, the social sciences, minorities studies, and women's studies.

Reviews

"In this ambitious statistical study exploring the influence of women, blacks, and Hispanics in state legislatures. Nelson argues these groups must not only be elected but must become fully incorporated into the legislative bodies before their influence can be felt. The longitudinal study involves analysis of partisan control in 135 legislatures over the 1982, 1984, and 1986 elections. Nelson argues, for example, that to assume that a Democratic chamber 18;pc of whose members are women is an indicator of influence neglects the fact that a large proportion of the women will be Republicans. Some findings: (1) Democratic women have more clout because their party controls more state legislatures; (2) black Democrats, like female Democrats, do better in metropolitan states where Democratic organizations are weak or in decline and there are fewer Roman Catholics; (3) non-black and non-Hispanic females slightly increased their representation in their respective parties; (4) representation of blacks and Hispanics declined slightly, 1983-87; (5) the expectation that minority influence would be exercised to increase funding for education, social welfare, and mental health and hospitals was not borne out. Nelson suggests further research, including interviews with individual minority representatives, to augment the quantitative findings. Upper-division undergraduate and graduate students."-Choice
In this ambitious statistical study exploring the influence of women, blacks, and Hispanics in state legislatures. Nelson argues these groups must not only be elected but must become fully incorporated into the legislative bodies before their influence can be felt. The longitudinal study involves analysis of partisan control in 135 legislatures over the 1982, 1984, and 1986 elections. Nelson argues, for example, that to assume that a Democratic chamber 18;pc of whose members are women is an indicator of influence neglects the fact that a large proportion of the women will be Republicans. Some findings: (1) Democratic women have more clout because their party controls more state legislatures; (2) black Democrats, like female Democrats, do better in metropolitan states where Democratic organizations are weak or in decline and there are fewer Roman Catholics; (3) non-black and non-Hispanic females slightly increased their representation in their respective parties; (4) representation of blacks and Hispanics declined slightly, 1983-87; (5) the expectation that minority influence would be exercised to increase funding for education, social welfare, and mental health and hospitals was not borne out. Nelson suggests further research, including interviews with individual minority representatives, to augment the quantitative findings. Upper-division undergraduate and graduate students.-Choice
The importance of Nelson's work is enhanced by its unique features: longitudinal analysis (1982-86 elections), separate analysis of Republican and Democratic legislative parties, attention to turnover, and analysis of the influence and policy impact of female and minority legislators.-American Political Science Review
"The importance of Nelson's work is enhanced by its unique features: longitudinal analysis (1982-86 elections), separate analysis of Republican and Democratic legislative parties, attention to turnover, and analysis of the influence and policy impact of female and minority legislators."-American Political Science Review

Author Bio

ALBERT J. NELSON is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. His publications include journal articles and contributed chapters on women and minorities in state legislatures and a variety of other political issues.