State Policy Outcomes and State Legislative Approval

Abstract

Does the public’s approval of their state legislature reflect their satisfaction with the outputs of state government? Using survey responses from the 2014 Cooperative Congressional Election Study, we consider the roots of public approval of state legislatures. We find that people are more likely to voice approval of their state legislature when it produces policy outcomes that correspond with their interests. Liberals view their state legislature more positively when policy outputs are liberal, while conservatives evaluate their state legislature more favorably when policy outcomes are conservative. These effects are the most pronounced among those who are the most knowledgeable about state politics. Using panel data from 2012 to 2014, we also show that changes in state policy liberalism are associated with changes in state legislative approval. Even though we have reasons to be pessimistic about the quality of citizens’ assessments of state government, our results demonstrate that citizens evaluate their state legislatures based on the policy outcomes they provide.

Relative Unemployment, Political Information, and the Job Approval Ratings of State Governors and Legislatures

“…Rogers 2017; Stein 1990). But Richardson, Konisky, and Milyo (2012); Richardson and Milyo (2016); Kelleher and Wolak (2007); and Langehennig, Zamadics, and Wolak (2019) report higher state unemployment dampens approval of and confidence in the state legislature.…”

“…Political predispositions, especially partisanship and ideological identification, have been found to be strong predictors of voter evaluations and support for political leaders. Survey research finds voter partisanship and ideological identification affect approval of the governor (Cohen 1983; Hamman 2004; Howell and Vanderleeuw 1990; Orth 2001) and state legislature (Langehennig, Zamadics, and Wolak 2019; Richardson, Konisky, and Milyo 2012; Richardson and Milyo 2016).…”

The Role of State Control in the Implementation of Legislation on Local Self-Government

“…This problem is also relevant for Ukraine, where in 2004 a congress of opposition political forces with pronounced separatist slogans was held in the city of Sieverodonetsk. Langehennig et al (2019) claim that state control under the legislation on local self-government depends significantly on the prevailing management paradigm in the state. If liberal democracy directs the development of local selfgovernment and grants broad powers and freedom of activity to local selfgovernment bodies, conservative democracy or even right-wing populism significantly limits the territorial community's self-governance capabilities.…”

Pro-Public Policy Prospects: The Study of Candidates’ Attribute for the Ternate Legislative Election in 2019

“…Studies on political campaigns have been carried out, for example, studies on political campaigns of Social Democratic Parties in Sweden in the 1994 and 1998 elections [2], Election Surveys in Australia 2016 regarding the economic impact of voters and party choice [3]. Another study that directly focuses on policy outcomes that correspond to the interests of voters [4], then the study of Political Branding of the Australian Federal Party by examining words and phrases that represent each party [5]. This article aims to examine the statement and message of the campaign attribute for Ternate legislators on the period 2019-2024.…”