Measuring Congress
Positions in Congress
100

Recorded votes where members vote YEA, NAY or PRESENT

What is a roll call vote?

100

Leader of the majority party, second in line to the presidency, role mentioned in Article I of the Constitution, elected by the House

What is the Speaker of the House?

200

A unidimensional survey method where statements are ordered by intensity, from least extreme to most extreme

What is the Guttman scale?

200

Ceremonial role, longest serving senator of the majority party, third in line to presidency, mentioned in Article I of the constitution

What is the President Pro Tempore?

300

Analysis of legislator's voting records created by Poole and Rosenthal

What is a NOMINATE score?

300

Works directly with Speaker of the House as the party’s chief legislative strategist, manages daily floor activity, prominent party fundraiser

What is the House Majority Leader?

400

Measures a lawmaker's proven ability to move their agenda items through a legislative process and into law

What is a Legislative Effectiveness Score?

400

Sets the legislative agenda, negotiates with the Speaker, influences committee assignments, more powerful than Pro Tempore

What is the Senate Majority Leader?

500

Bill sponsorship, action in committee, action beyond committee, passing the chamber, becoming law

What are the stages of the lawmaking process?

500

Senior member of the majority party who functions like the Speaker of the House or Senate Majority Leader for their committee

What is a Committee Chair?