Latinos in the Legislative Process

In one of the only accounts of Latino legislative behavior, Stella M. Rouse examines how well the growing Latino population translates their increased presence into legislative influence. Latinos in the Legislative Process explores Latino representation by considering the role of ethnicity throughout the legislative process - from bill sponsorship, to committee deliberations, to floor votes - in seven state legislatures. Rouse first identifies issues that are priorities for Latinos and tells us whether a Latino political agenda exists. She then provides a theoretical framework for ethnicity in legislative behavior and outcomes. Rouse demonstrates that ethnicity is a complex dynamic that plays a variable role in the legislative process. Thus, Latino representation cannot be viewed monolithically.

“Overall, this is clearly the most comprehensive analysis of Latino representation in U.S. state legislatures to date. It will become the benchmark study on this topic for future work in the field. I applaud the author for her use of mixed methods (interviews and statistical analysis of a broad range of data); the analysis of sponsorship of legislation and committee participation are important parts of the book, and the case study chapter was also very useful. Her examination of seven legislatures in six different years provides a much stronger basis for generalizing about the results than any previous work.” – David Canon, University of Wisconsin, Madison, “This is an outstanding book because it substantially advances our understanding of how the focus, approach, and efforts of Latino officials are influenced by the structures and processes of legislatures in a number of the American states. Through careful and thorough analysis it demonstrates that a fuller and appropriate account of the behavior of legislators, including and perhaps especially Latino representatives, requires ample attention to the dimensions and complexity of governmental institutions and decision-making context. The study is theoretically well grounded, produces nuanced and interesting findings, and offers impressive evidence to examine its central questions.” – Rodney E. Hero, University of California, Berkeley, “Stella Rouse has moved to the forefront of her generation of Latino politics scholars with this important book. This fine effort is the most comprehensive examination of Latinos in the legislative process to date. Rouse uses new data and multi-method analysis including large-N statistical analysis and in-person interviews, all at the state level where the bulk of Latino electeds engage the legislative process. She offers important insights on agenda setting, committee behavior, and floor voting. This is first-rate work by an important emerging scholar.” – Gary M. Segura, Stanford University, “Drawing on a multitude of data, Rouse ties together public opinion with the policy priorities of legislators to delineate a set of Latino interest policies and a more general set of policies that are important to Latinos. Her careful analysis of policy making in multiple state legislatures across time illuminates the conditions in which ethnic identity has the greatest impact. Rouse also demonstrates when other factors that motivate legislative behavior, particularly party affiliation, reduce the relevance of ethnic identity for providing substantive representation of group interests. The book is an important contribution to the literature on representation and ethnic politics. Anyone who wants to understand the policy interests and legislative impact of the fastest growing demographic in the United States should read this book.” – Michele Swers, Georgetown University

Stella M. Rouse is Assistant Professor of Government and Politics, and Fellow at the Center for American Politics and Citizenship, at the University of Maryland.