The Effect of Legislative Diversity on Agenda Setting

Abstract

I examine the relationship between increasing gender and racial diversity within legislatures and agenda setting and find important differences within and across minority groups (i.e., Blacks and women). Increasing gender diversity among Democrats is associated with an overall increase in the number of women’s interests measures introduced; the opposite effect is observed for Republicans. Increasing racial diversity among Democrats is associated with a transference phenomenon in which White legislators introduce fewer Black interest measures, and Black legislators share the role of bringing Black interests to the agenda. Moreover, evidence exists that increasing racial diversity among Democrats is associated with a higher number of bills sponsored by Republicans that are contrary to Black interests and with fewer such bills sponsored by Democrats. I conclude that although increasing diversity can be accompanied by an increased attention to group interests, it is important to take into account partisan differences and differences between minority groups.