Latino Representation in the U. S. Congress: How Much and by Whom?

Authors

  • Juan Carlos Huerta
  • Adolfo Santos

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15763/issn.2374-7781.2006.27.0.115-128

Abstract

Research on measuring support for Latino issues in Congress has found that party affiliation is the primary influence on the level of support. The research also demonstrates that under certain scenarios, Latino representatives do provide more substantive Latino representation than do non-Latino representatives. The purpose of this project is to re-evaluate these earlier findings using more recent data in a changed political context. In addition, the project will examine the effects that different types of Democrats have on Latino representation. The findings suggest that when it comes to support for Latino issues, there are differences between the parties, and within the Democratic Party. An unexpected source of Latino representation, members of the Congressional Black Caucus, is also revealed in the findings.

References

Brace, Kimball, Bernard Grofman, and Lisa Handley. 1987. Does Redistricting Aimed to Help Blacks Necessarily Help Republicans? The Journal of Politics 49:169-185. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2131139

Butler, David, and Bruce E. Cain. 1992. Congressional Redistricting: Comparative and Theoretical Perspectives. New York: Macmillan.

Canon, David T. 1999. Race, Redistricting, and Representation: The Unintended Consequences of Black Majority Districts. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

Hero, Rodney E., and Caroline J. Tolbert. 1955. Latinos and Substantive Representation in the U.S. House of Representatives: Direct, Indirect, or Nonexistent? American Journal of Political Science 39:640-652. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2111648

Hurley, Patricia A. 1989. Partisan Representation and the Failure of Realignment in the 1980s. American Journal of Political Science 33:240-261. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2111261

Jackson, John E., and John W. Kingdon. 1992. Ideology, Interest Group Scores, and Legislative Votes. American Journal of Political Science 36(3):805-823. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2111592

Kerr, Brinck, and Will Miller. 1997. Latino Representation, It's Direct and Indirect. American Journal of Political Science 41:1066-1071. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2111688

Overby, L. Marvin, and Kenneth M. Cosgrove. 1996. Unintended Consequences? Racial Redistricting and the Representation of Minority Interests. Journal of Politics 58:540-550. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2960239

Pitkin, Hanna Fenichel. 1967. The Concept of Representation. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Ratcliffe, R.G., and Clay Robison. 2003. Remap Will Turn Away Minorities, Judges Told. The Houston Cronicle, December 12, p. 37.

Santos, Adolfo. 2001. Substantive Representation for Hispanics: Explaining Congressional Support for Hispanic Issues. Harvard Journal of Hispanic Policy 13:45-65.

Santos, Adolfo, and Juan Carlos Huerta. 2001. An Analysis of Descriptive and Substantive Latino Representation in Congress. In Representation of Minority Groups in the U.S.: Implications for the Twenty-first Century, ed. C. Menifield. Lanham, MD: Austin & Winfield.

Swain, Carol M. 1993. Black Faces, Black Interests: The Representation of African Americans in Congress. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Vigil, Maurilio E. 1984. Hispanics Gain Seats in the 98th Congress after Reapportionment. International Social Science Review 59:20-30.

Vigil, Maurilio E. 1994. Hispanics in the 103rd Congress: The 1990 Census, Reapportionment, Redistricting, and the 1992 Elections. Latino Studies Journal 5:40-76.

Weissberg, Robert. 1978. Collective vs. Dyadic Representation in Congress. American Political Science Review 72:535-536. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1954109

Welch, Susan, and John R. Hibbing. 1984. Hispanic Representation in the U.S. Congress. Social Science Quarterly 65:328-335.

Downloads

Published

2006-07-01

Issue

Section

Articles