Accounting for the Quality of Black Legislative Life: The View from the States

Abstract

Theory: Differences in the experiences of and perceptions among African-American state legislators on the quality of black legislative life are the result of individual and contextual factors. Hypotheses: The quality of black legislative life will be greater among males, more senior members and those who serve in key leadership positions. Contextually, black perceptions of how blacks and black interests fare in state legislatures will be more positive among those who serve in legislatures in which African-Americans serve in greater proportions and where the balance between the two parties is more even. In addition, members who represent more affluent and white majority districts, serve outside the Deep South, and live in states with better race relations will report a higher quality of legislative life. Methods: Responses from a national survey of black state legislators conducted in 1991 are used to estimate the impact of individual and contextual variables on member perceptions of the quality of black legislative life. Results: The data support several of the hypotheses. More senior members, males, those who represent white majority and more affluent districts, those from outside the Deep South, and those who report better race relations are likely to view the black legislative experience more positively.