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This paper uses the natural experiment of redistricting to measure how much congressmen adjust their positions when the prevailing opinion in their districts changes. The evidence indicates an appreciable amount of responsiveness. Ideological responsiveness is higher among congressmen who win reelection than among those not returned to office, and is greater among senior congressmen than among junior ones. Substantial differences appear on the group level, with Democrats following mostly liberal changes and Republicans following conservative ones.
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Glazer et al. (1985) studied this question.
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