Legislative Role Orientations and Support for Party and Chief Executive in the Indiana House

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between role orientations and roll-call voting behavior in the 1969 session of the Indiana House of Representatives. Role orientations toward party, separation of powers, style and areal focus of representation are correlated (Pearson's r) with Republican and Democratic legislators' support for party and gubernatorial positions on contested bills. Role orientations are also entered into multiple regression analysis of party and gubernatorial support. Role orientations are found to relate rather weakly, if at all, to the roll-call voting measures. Majorityminority status affects the relationships, with roles appearing to be more important among the minority Democratic legislators. Variables more useful to an explanation of roll-call support for party and governor include length of legislative service, the legislators' perceptions of the primary competition in the legislative district, district interparty competition, and strength or importance of local party organizations to election. Roles appear to be important only at the margins in explanations of party and gubernatorial support in roll-call voting.