3. Discuss three theories that purport to explain why members of Congress vote as they do. Chapter 11: Congress. Wilson Textbook.

There are at least three ways which lead a representative or a senator to vote for or against a bill or amendment: representational, organizational and attitudinal. Representational is based on the assumption that members want to get re-elected and therefore vote to please their constituents. Organizational is based on the assumption that since most constituents don't know how their senator voted, it is not essential to please them. But it is important to please fellow …

…do, you were sleeping through the last hearing). The attitudinal view is based on the individual legislator's personal ideology. Where party splits, it is up the legislator to make the decision. Often times, senators from the same state may have widely differing opinions on certain issues based upon his or her ideology. A legislator who is a liberal Republican may vote democratic on some issues, and a conservative Democrat may vote republican on other issues.