MEASURING CONGRESSIONAL RESPONSIVENESS TO THE POLICY INTERESTS OF BLACK CONSTITUENTS.

In this research a measure of black interest is constructed to determine whether southern congressmen are responding to the needs of black constituents. The measure focuses on social welfare legislation which would eventually improve the living conditions of blacks. The findings reveal that party, and to a lesser extent the urban-racial composition of the district, heavily affect the voting decisions of southern congressmen. The major conclusion drawn is that distinct partisan differences have emerged in the South on civil rights and class-based socioeconomic issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]