Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-30T23:08:36.696Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Chief Executive Success in the Legislative Arena

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 January 2021

Margaret Robertson Ferguson
Margaret Robertson Ferguson*
Affiliation:
Indiana University at Indianapolis
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

American chief executives are popularly believed to play a crucial leadership role in the legislative process, but this role is not well understood by scholars. This article develops a model of executive leadership success in the legislative arena based on personal, institutional, political, and economic factors and tests that model with data on the legislative priorities of the 50 state governors in 1993-94. Institutional features of the executive, which have been the focus of much scholarship, are found to have little effect on a governor's legislative success. On the other hand, the nature of the legislature is quite important here, with more professional legislatures actually encouraging executive leadership. A governor's personal characteristics, political party, and a state's economy also influence a governor's legislative success. These findings point to the importance of examining chief executives in the context in which they work if we are to understand their role as legislative leader.

Type
Other
Information
State Politics & Policy Quarterly , Volume 3 , Issue 2 , June 2003 , pp. 158 - 182
Copyright
Copyright © The American Political Science Association, 2003

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Barone, Michael. 1996. The Almanac of American Politics. Washington, DC: National Journal.Google Scholar
Bernick, E. Lee. 1979. “Gubernatorial Tools: Formal vs. Informal.” Journal of Politics 41:656–664.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bernick, E. Lee, and Wiggins, Charles W.. 1991. “Executive-Legislative Relations: The Governor's Role as Chief Legislator.” In Gubernatorial Leadership and State Policy, eds. Herzik, Eric B. and Brown, Brent W.. New York: Greenwood Press.Google Scholar
Berry, Jeffrey M. 1989. The Interest Group Society. Boston, MA: Scott, Foresman and Company.Google Scholar
Beyle, Thad. 1983. “Governors.” In Politics in the American States, eds. Gray, Virginia, Jacob, H., and Vines, Kenneth N.. 4th ed. Boston, MA: Little Brown.Google Scholar
Beyle, Thad. 1990. “Governors.” In Politics in the American States, eds. Gray, Virginia, Jacob, H., and Albritton, R. B.. 5th ed. Boston, MA: Little Brown.Google Scholar
Beyle, Thad. 1992. “New Governors in Hard Economic and Political Times.” In Governors and Hard Times, ed. Beyle, Thad. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly.Google Scholar
Beyle, Thad. 1996. “Being Governor.” In The State of the States, ed. Van Horn, Carl E.. 3rd ed. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Press.Google Scholar
Beyle, Thad, Niemi, Richard G., and Sigelman, Lee. 2002. “Approval Ratings of Public Officials in the American States: Causes and Effects.” State Politics and Policy Quarterly 2:215–229.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bond, Jon R., and Fleisher, Richard. 1990. The President in the Legislative Arena. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Bond, Jon R., and Fleisher, Richard. 1984. “Presidential Popularity and Congressional Voting: A Reexamination of Public Opinion as a Source of Influence in Congress.” Western Political Quarterly 37:291–306.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowling, Cynthia J., and Ferguson, Margaret R.. 2001. “Divided Government, Legislative Gridlock and Policy Differences: Evidence from the Fifty States.” Journal of Politics 63:182–206.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowman, Ann O'M., and Kearney, Richard C.. 1988. “Dimensions of State Government Capability.” Western Political Quarterly 41:341–362.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brace, Paul, and Ward, Daniel S.. 1999. “The Institutionalized Legislature and the Rise of the Antipolitics Era.” In American State and Local Politic,“ eds. Weber, Ronald E. and Brace, Paul. Chatham, NJ: Chatham House.Google Scholar
Brudney, Jeffrey L., and Ted Hebert, F.. 1987. “State Agencies and Their Environments: Examining the Influence of Important External Actors.” Journal of Politics 49:186–206.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Collier, Kenneth, and Sullivan, Terry. 1995. “New Evidence Undercutting the Linkage of Approval with Presidential Support and Influence.” Journal of Politics 57:197–209.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Council of State Governments. 1994. The Book of the States, Vol. 30. Lexington, KY: Council of State Governments.Google Scholar
Crew, Robert E. 1992. “Understanding Gubernatorial Behavior: A Framework for Analysis.” In Governors and Hard Times, ed. Beyle, Thad. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly.Google Scholar
Dilger, Robert J., Krause, George, and Moffett, Randolph R.. 1995. “State Legislative Professionalism and Gubernatorial Effectiveness, 1978-1991.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 20:553–571.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dometrius, Nelson C. 1987. “Changing Gubernatorial Power: The Measure vs. Reality.” Western Political Quarterly 40:319–333.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Donahue, John D. 1997. Disunited States. New York: Basic Books.Google Scholar
Dye, Thomas R. 1969. “Executive Power and Public Policy in the States.” Western Political Quarterly 22:929–939.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, George C. III. 1980. Presidential Influence in Congress. San Francisco, CA: Freeman.Google Scholar
Edwards, George C. III. 1989. At the Margins: Presidential Leadership of Congress. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Edwards, George C. III, and Wayne, Stephen J.. 1990. Presidential Leadership: Politics and Policy Making. New York: St. Martin's Press.Google Scholar
Fenno, Richard F. 1986. “Observation, Context and Sequence in the Study of Politics.” American Political Science Review 80:3–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ferguson, Margaret R. 1993. “Assessing Perceived Gubernatorial Influence Over State Administrators: 1978-1988.” Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Ferguson, Margaret R. 1994. “Institutional Determinants of Administrative Control and Oversight.” Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Southern Political Science Association, Atlanta, GA.Google Scholar
Fett, Patrick J. 1994. “Presidential Legislative Priorities and Legislators' Voting Decisions: An Exploratory Analysis.” Journal of Politics 56:502–512.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fiorina, Morris. 1984. “The Presidency and the Contemporary Electoral System.” In The Presidency and the Political System, ed. Nelson, Michael. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Press.Google Scholar
Gais, Thomas L., Peterson, Mark A., and Walker, Jack L.. 1984. “Interest Groups, Iron Triangles, and Representative Institutions in American National Government.” British Journal of Political Science 14:161–185.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gleiber, Dennis, and Shull, Steven A.. 1992. “Presidential Influence in the Policymaking Process.” Western Political Quarterly 45:442–468.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gray, Virginia, and Lowery, David. 1995. “Interest Representation and Democratic Gridlock.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 20:531–552.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gray, Virginia, and Lowery, David. 1996. The Population Ecology of Interest Representation: Lobbying Communities in the American States. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gross, Donald. 1991. “The Policy Role of Governors.” In Gubernatorial Leadership and State Policy, eds. Herzik, Eric B. and Brown, Brent W.. New York: Greenwood Press.Google Scholar
Hamm, Keith and Moncrief, Gary F.. 1999. “Legislative Politics in the States.” In Politics in the American States: A Comparative Analysis, eds. Gray, Virginia, Hanson, Russell L., and Jacob, Herbert. 7th ed. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Press.Google Scholar
Hanson, Russell. 1999. “Intergovernmental Relations.” In Politics in the American States: A Comparative Analysis, eds. Gray, Virginia, Hanson, Russell L., and Jacob, Herbert. 7th ed. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Press.Google Scholar
Hebert, F. Ted, Brudney, Jeffrey L., and Wright, Deil S.. 1983. “Gubernatorial Influence and State Bureaucracy.” American Politics Quarterly 11:243–264.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Herzik, Eric. 1991. “Policy Agendas and Gubernatorial Leadership.” In Gubernatorial Leadership and State Policy, eds. Herzik, Eric B. and Brown, Brent W.. New York: Greenwood Press.Google Scholar
Jacobson, Gary. 1987. “Running Scared: Elections and Congressional Politics in the 1980's.” In Congress: Structure and Policy, eds. McCubbins, Matthew and Sullivan, Terry. New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Jewell, Malcolm E., and Whicker, Marci Lynn. 1994. Legislative Leadership in the American States. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.Google Scholar
Kernell, Samuel. 1986. Going Public: New Strategies of Presidential Leadership. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Press.Google Scholar
Kindgon, John W. 1984. Agendas, Alternatives and Public Policies. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company.Google Scholar
Light, Paul. 1982. The President's Agenda. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.Google Scholar
Mayhew, David. 1974. Congress: The Electoral Connection. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
McConnell, Grant. 1966. Private Power and American Democracy. New York: Vintage Books.Google Scholar
McFarland, Andrew S. 1992. “Interest Groups and the Policymaking Process: Sources of Countervailing Power in America.” In Politics and Interests, ed. Petracca, Mark P.. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.Google Scholar
Moncrief, Gary F., and Thompson, Joel A.. 1992. “The Evolution of the State Legislature: Institutional Change and Legislative Careers.” In Changing Patterns in State Legislative Careers, eds. Moncrief, Gary F. and Thompson, Joel. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moncrief, Gary F., Thompson, Joel A., Haddon, Michael, and Hoyer, Robert. 1992. “For Whom the Bell Tolls: Term Limits and State Legislatures.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 17:37–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mooney, Christopher Z. 1995. “Citizens, Structures, and Sister States: Influences on State Legislative Professionalism.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 20:47–67.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morehouse, Sarah McCally. 1981. State Politics, Parties and Policy. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.Google Scholar
Morehouse, Sarah McCally. 1994. “The State Party and the Legislative Party: The Linkage.” Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Southern Political Science Association, Atlanta, GA.Google Scholar
Morehouse, Sarah McCally. 1998. The Governor as Party Leader. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mouw, Calvin, and MacKuen, Michael. 1992. “The Strategic Configuration, Personal Influence, and Presidential Power in Congress.” Western Political Quarterly 45:579–608.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mueller, Keith J. 1985. “Explaining Variation and Change in Gubernatorial Powers, 1960-1982.” Western Political Quarterly 38:424–430.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Neustadt, Richard. 1980. Presidential Power. New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
Olson, David M. 1985. “Success and Content in Presidential Roll Calls: The First Three Years of the Reagan Administration.” Presidential Studies Quarterly 15:602–610.Google Scholar
Ostrom, Charles W. Jr., and Simon, Dennis M.. 1985. “Promise and Performance: A Dynamic Model of Presidential Popularity.” American Political Science Review 79:334–358.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ostrom, Charles W. Jr., and Simon, Dennis M.. 1988. “The President's Public.” American Political Science Review 32:1096–1119.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peterson, Mark. 1990. Legislating Together. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
Pfiffner, James P. 1988. The Strategic Presidency. Chicago: Dorsey.Google Scholar
Polsby, Nelson. 1978. “Interest Groups and the Presidency: Trends in Political Intermediation in America.” In American Politics and Public Policy, eds. Burnham, Walter Dean and Weinberg, Martha Wagner. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.Google Scholar
Ragsdale, Lyn. 1993. Presidential Politics. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.Google Scholar
Rivers, Douglas, and Rose, Nancy. 1985. “Passing the President's Program: Public Opinion and Presidential Influence in Congress.” American Journal of Political Science 29:183–196.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rosenthal, Alan. 1990. Governors and Legislatures: Contending Powers. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Press.Google Scholar
Rosenthal, Alan. 1998. The Decline of Representative Democracy. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Press.Google Scholar
Schlesinger, Joseph A. 1965. “The Politics of the Executive.” In Politics in the American States, eds. Jacob, Henry and Vines, Kenneth N.. Boston, MA: Little, Brown.Google Scholar
Schlozman, Kay Lehman, and Tierney, John J.. 1986. Organized Interests and American Democracy. New York: Harper and Row.Google Scholar
Sigelman, Lee, and Dometrius, Nelson C.. 1988. “Governors as Chief Administrators: The Linkage Between Formal Powers and Informal Influence.” American Politics Quarterly 16:157–170.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simonton, Dean Keith. 1987. Why Presidents Succeed: A Political Psychology of Leadership. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Squire, Peverill. 1992. “Legislative Professionalization and Membership Diversity in State Legislatures.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 17:69–79.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sullivan, Terry. 1991. “The Bank Account Presidency: A New Measure and Evidence on the Temporal Path of Presidential Influence.” American Journal of Political Science 35:686–723.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment and Earnings. Monthly editions, 1993-94. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.Google Scholar
Van Horn, Carl E. 1996. “The Quiet Revolution.” In The State of the States, ed. Van Horn, Carl E.. 3rd ed. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Press.Google Scholar
Weber, Ronald E., and Brace, Paul, eds. 1999. American State and Local Politics: Directions for the 21st Century. New York: Chatham House.Google Scholar
Wiggins, Charles W. 1980. “Executive Vetoes and Legislative Overrides in the American States.” Journal of Politics 42:1110–1117.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wright, Deil. 1967. “Executive Leadership in State Administration: Interplay of Gubernatorial, Legislative and Administrative Power.” Midwest Journal of Political Science 11:1–26.CrossRefGoogle Scholar