Linking Constituency Opinion and Senate Voting Scores: A Hybrid Explanation

This paper attempts to explain better the linkages between constituency opinion and the voting records of senators. A hybrid explanation-the modified twoconstituency thesis-is presented here, and the analyses provide evidence in support of the explanation. Senators' voting scores are most strongly related to the weighted position of their party's constituents. The extent to which senators' voting scores diverge from the preferences of constituents of their own party depends on the weighted positions of independents and constituents of the other party.