Spatial Models of Parliamentary Voting (Analytical Methods for Social Research) - Softcover

Poole, Keith T.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521617472 ISBN 13: 9780521617475

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2005

Synopsis

This book presents a simple geometric model of voting as a tool to analyze parliamentary roll call data. Each legislator is represented by one point and each roll call is represented by two points that correspond to the policy consequences of voting Yea or Nay. On every roll call each legislator votes for the closer outcome point, at least probabilistically. These points form a spatial map that summarizes the roll calls. In this sense a spatial map is much like a road map because it visually depicts the political world of a legislature. The closeness of two legislators on the map shows how similar their voting records are, and the distribution of legislators shows what the dimensions are. These maps can be used to study a wide variety of topics including how political parties evolve over time, the existence of sophisticated voting and how an executive influences legislative outcomes.

About this title

Review

'This book achieves its aim of explaining how to build a spatial model and will be essential reading for those engaged in that, while still being readable and related well to real politics.' Political Studies Review

Book Description

Presents a geometric voting model for analyzing parliamentary roll call data. The model can be used to study various topics related to legislative voting, including how political parties evolve over time, the existence of sophisticated voting, the representation of ethnic minorities in the legislature, and constituency interests and legislative behavior.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0521617472
• ISBN 13: 9780521617475
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 248