Do electoral district size and diversity affect legislative behaviour?. Issue 1 (2nd January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Willumsen, David M.; Stecker, Christian; Goetz, Klaus H.
• Is Part Of: Australian journal of political science. Volume 54:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 37
• Page End: 64
• Publication Date: 2019-01-02
• Subjects: Australian senate -- electoral districts -- parliamentary behaviour -- representation; Australasia -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; Political science -- Periodicals; 320
• DOI: 10.1080/10361146.2018.1537390
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1036-1146

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper analyses how the size and socio-economic diversity of their electorate affect parliamentarians' legislative behaviour. We study the Australian senate, which wields considerable legislative influence and is marked by large differences in the size and socio-economic makeup of the districts that senators represent. We demonstrate that as the size of their district increases, senators ask more questions and introduce more bills and amendments. By contrast, senators become less active as the diversity of their electoral district increases. The paper thus establishes that size and diversity of electorates have significant effects on legislative behaviour.