Showing papers on "Formal relationships published in 1979"
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined a number of the formal properties of the place of the conference committee in the legislative process and argued that the use of conference committees affects the sophisticated voting decisions of a legislature by increasing the number of possible social alternatives beyond that initially considered in either chamber.
Abstract: This paper examines a number of the formal properties of the place of the conference committee in the legislative process. It is argued that the use of conference committees affects the sophisticated voting decisions of a legislature by increasing the number of possible social alternatives beyond that initially considered in either chamber. Certain formal relationships between cyclical majorities and the occurrence and influence of conference committees are also discussed in relation to sincere and sophisticated voting. Finally, interviews with Iowa state senators are used to examine the formal properties of conference committees in relation to one specific piece of legislation. The empirical evidence indicates that the formal properties of conference committees are exhibited in certain behavioral tendencies.
26 citations