Members Of Congress Mayhew Summary

Daniel Severinov
11/3/2014
01:790:395
D. Mayhew

Mayhew provides an analysis of the structure, function and organization of the United States Congress, as well as the incentives that the Members of Congress find themselves motivated by. In Madison's Federalist Articles, the founding father lays down many facets and points that he would like to see incorporated by the government, as well as possible solutions to several problematic areas of interest, such as factions. Mayhew's analysis points out the Members of Congress' prioritization of re-election seeking behavior, with congress members finding themselves in a state of constant fear of losing an election and always seeking ways to improve their chances of winning an election, "interested

This results in a balance in which the functions of government are still considered despite the prioritization of a somewhat primal need of the Congress person to keep himself in office - motivated by money and power on the individual level, and adding the lust for money and power into the functions of the government: and not that Mayhew is praising this function of the

Therefore, the period of service should “bear some proportion to the extent of practical knowledge requisite to the due performance of the service.” (Federalist 53, 77) He also foresaw that some outstanding legislators might be re-elected and would become “masters of public business” (Federalist 53, 72). As now-a-days the re-election rate for members of Congress exceeds 90%, it seems that Madison’s theory of democracy is in contradiction with the present situation where the political elite minority rules over people. And as Mayhew points that politicians are only motivated by the rewards of office (income, prestige, and power), thus they seek re-elections to hold on to these rewards rather than to promote ephemeral “good public policy.” (Mayhew, 16) But whatever stimulates the politician; frequent elections uphold the democratic principle of the accountability of politicians before the people. The quest for re-election makes a congressman to engage in activities related to re-election, such as advertising of his qualities as a politician to promote public policies, claiming credit for influencing certain legislature, and taking a position on current issues.