Hostname: page-component-6bf8c574d5-mggfc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-19T20:15:17.700Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Squire Index Update

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 January 2021

Peverill Squire
Peverill Squire*
Affiliation:
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
*
Peverill Squire, University of Missouri, 103 Professional Building, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The measure of legislative professionalization I developed was first published a quarter century ago. Since then, updates have appeared periodically. In this note, I briefly document the measure's usefulness in academic research and then calculate it for 2015. For reasons I detail, the updated measure is corrected for a misestimate of days in session for some states.

Keywords

legislative professionalismlegislative politicspolitical culturepublic policymethodologyfederal/statefederalism
Type
Research Article
Information
State Politics & Policy Quarterly , Volume 17 , Issue 4 , December 2017 , pp. 361 - 371
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2017

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abel, Troy D., Salazar, Debra J., and Robert, Patricia. 2015. “States of Environmental Justice: Redistributive Politics across the United States, 1993–2004.” Review of Policy Research 32:200–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anderson, Sarah E., Butler, Daniel M., and Harbridge, Laurel. 2016. “Legislative Institutions as a Source of Party Leaders' Influence.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 41:605–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baker, Travis J., and Hedge, David M.. 2013. “Term Limits and Legislative-Executive Conflict in the American States.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 38:237–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berry, William D., Berkman, Michael B., and Schneiderman, Stuart. 2000. “Legislative Professionalism and Incumbent Reelection: The Development of Institutional Boundaries.” American Political Science Review 94:859–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boehmke, Frederick J. 2005. “Sources of Variation in the Frequency of Statewide Initiatives: The Role of Interest Group Populations.” Political Research Quarterly 58:565–75.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boehmke, Frederick J., and Shipan, Charles R.. 2015. “Oversight Capabilities in the States: Are Professionalized Legislatures Better at Getting What They Want?” State Politics & Policy Quarterly 15:366–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boushey, Graeme T., and Luedtke, Adam. 2011. “Immigrants across the U.S. Federal Laboratory: Explaining State-Level Innovation in Immigration Policy.” State Politics & Policy Quarterly 11:390–414.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boushey, Graeme T., and McGrath, Robert J.. 2017. “Experts, Amateurs, and Bureaucratic Influence in the American States.” Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory 27:85–103.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowen, Daniel C., and Greene, Zachary. 2014. “Should We Measure Professionalism with an Index? A Note on Theory and Practice in State Legislative Professionalism Research.” State Politics & Policy Quarterly 14:277–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, Adam R., and Goodliffe, Jay. 2017. “Why Do Legislators Skip Votes? Position Taking versus Policy Influence.” Political Behavior 39:425–55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coggburn, Jerrell D. 2003. “Exploring Differences in the American States' Procurement Practices.” Journal of Public Procurement 3:3–28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coggburn, Jerrell D., and Kearney, Richard C.. 2010. “Trouble Keeping Promises? An Analysis of Underfunding in State Retiree Benefits.” Public Administration Review 70:97–108.Google Scholar
Harden, Jeffrey J. 2013. “Multidimensional Responsiveness: The Determinants of Legislators' Representational Priorities.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 38:155–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hearn, James C., McLendon, Michael K., and Austin Lacy, T.. 2013. “State-Funded ‘Eminent Scholars’ Programs: University Faculty Recruitment as an Emerging Policy Instrument.” Journal of Higher Education 84:601–39.Google Scholar
Huber, John D., Shipan, Charles R., and Pfahler, Madelaine. 2001. “Legislatures and Statutory Control of Bureaucracy.” American Journal of Political Science 45:330–45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jenkins, Shannon. 2010. “Examining the Influences over Roll Call Voting in Multiple Issue Areas: A Comparative US State Analysis.” Journal of Legislative Studies 16:14–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ka, Sangjoon, and Teske, Paul. 2002. “Ideology and Professionalism—Electricity Regulation and Deregulation Over Time in the American States.” American Politics Research 30:323–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kattelman, Kyle T. 2015. “Legislative Professionalism and Interest Group Concentration: The ESA Model Revisited.” Interest Groups & Advocacy 4:165–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kelleher, Christine A., and Wolak, Jennifer. 2007. “Explaining Public Confidence in the Branches of State Government.” Political Research Quarterly 60:707–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kellough, J. Edward, and Selden, Sally Coleman. 2003. “The Reinvention of Public Personnel Administration: An Analysis of the Diffusion of Personnel Management Reforms in the States.” Public Administration Review 63:165–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
King, James D. 2000. “Changes in Professionalism in U.S. State Legislatures.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 25:327–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kousser, Thad. 2005. Term Limits and the Dismantling of State Legislative Professionalism. New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Kousser, Thad, and Phillips, Justin H.. 2012. The Power of American Governors: Winning on Budgets and Losing on Policy. New York: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lax, Jeffrey R., and Phillips, Justin H.. 2009. “Gay Rights in the States: Public Opinion and Public Responsiveness.” American Political Science Review 103:367–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lax, Jeffrey R., and Phillips, Justin H.. 2012. “The Democratic Deficit in the States.” American Journal of Political Science 56:148–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lewis, Daniel C., Schneider, Saundra K., and Jacoby, William G.. 2015. “Institutional Characteristics and State Policy Priorities: The Impact of Legislatures and Governors.” State Politics & Policy Quarterly 15:447–75.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, Amy Yunqi. 2017. “Covet Thy Neighbor or ‘Reverse Policy Diffusion‘? State Adoption of Performance Funding 2.0.” Research in Higher Education. Published electronically January 9. doi:10.1007/s11162-016-9444-9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maestas, Cherie. 2003. “The Incentive to Listen: Progressive Ambition, Resources, and Opinion Monitoring among State Legislators.” Journal of Politics 65:439–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Malhotra, Neil. 2006. “Government Growth and Professionalism in U.S. State Legislatures.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 31:563–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Malhotra, Neil. 2008. “Disentangling the Relationship between Legislative Professionalism and Government Spending.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 33:387–414.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marchetti, Kathleen. 2015. “Consider the Context: How State Policy Environments Shape Interest Group Advocacy.” State and Local Government Review 47:155–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marquez, Timothy, and Schraufnagel, Scot. 2013. “Hispanic Population Growth and State Immigration Policy: An Analysis of Restriction (2008-2012).” Publius 43:347–67.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McCann, Pamela J. Clouser, Shipan, Charles R., and Volden, Craig. 2015. “Top-Down Federalism: State Policy Responses to National Government Discussions.” Publius 45:495–525.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McGrath, Robert J. 2013. “Legislatures, Courts, and Statutory Control of the Bureaucracy across the U.S. States.” State Politics & Policy Quarterly 13:373–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McLendon, Michael K., Hearn, James C., and Mokher, Christine G.. 2009. “Partisans, Professionals, and Power: The Role of Political Factors in State Higher Education Funding.” Journal of Higher Education 80:686–713.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McLendon, Michael K., Tandberg, David A., and Hillman, Nicholas W.. 2014. “Financing College Opportunity: Factors Influencing State Spending on Student Financial Aid and Campus Appropriations, 1990 through 2010.” The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 655:143–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miller, Edward Alan, Wang, Lili, Feng, Zhanlian, and Mor, Vincent. 2012. “Improving Direct-Care Compensation in Nursing Homes: Medicaid Wage Pass-Through Adoption, 1999-2004.” Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law 37:469–512.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Miller, Susan M. 2013. “Administering Representation: The Role of Elected Administrators in Translating Citizens' Preferences into Public Policy.” Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory 23:865–97.Google Scholar
Moncrief, Gary F., Niemi, Richard G., and Powell, Lynda W.. 2004. “Time, Term Limits, and Turnover: Membership Stability in U.S. State Legislatures.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 29:357–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moncrief, Gary F., and Squire, Peverill. 2017. Why States Matter: An Introduction to State Politics. 2nd ed. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.Google Scholar
Monogan, James E. III 2013. “The Politics of Immigration Policy in the 50 US States, 2005-2011.” Journal of Public Policy 33:35–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mooney, Christopher Z. 1995. “Citizens, Structures, and Sister States: Influences on State Legislative Professionalism.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 20:47–67.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nicholson-Crotty, Jill, and Miller, Susan M.. 2012. “Bureaucratic Effectiveness and Influence in the Legislature.” Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory 22:347–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Richardson, Lilliard E. Jr., Konisky, David M., and Milyo, Jeffrey. 2012. “Public Approval of U.S. State Legislatures.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 37:99–116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Richman, Jesse. 2010. “The Logic of Legislative Leadership: Preferences, Challenges, and the Speaker's Powers.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 35:211–33.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schmeida, Mary, and McNeal, Ramona. 2013. “Children's Mental-Health Language Access Laws: State Factors Influence Policy Adoption.” Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research 40:364–70.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shipan, Charles R., and Volden, Craig. 2014. “When the Smoke Clears: Expertise, Learning and Policy Diffusion.” Journal of Public Policy 34:357–87.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slemrod, Joel. 2005. “The Etiology of Tax Complexity: Evidence from U.S. State Income Tax Systems.” Public Finance Review 33:279–99.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Squire, Peverill. 1992. “Legislative Professionalization and Membership Diversity in State Legislatures.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 17:69–79.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Squire, Peverill. 1993. “Professionalism and Public Opinion of State Legislatures.” Journal of Politics 55:479–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Squire, Peverill. 1998. “Membership Turnover and the Efficient Processing of Legislation.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 23:23–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Squire, Peverill. 2000. “Uncontested Seats in State Legislative Elections.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 25:131–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Squire, Peverill. 2007. “Measuring Legislative Professionalism: The Squire Index Revisited.” State Politics & Policy Quarterly 7:211–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Squire, Peverill. 2012. The Evolution of American Legislatures: Colonies, Territories and States, 1619-2009. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Squire, Peverill, and Hamm, Keith E.. 2005. 101 Chambers: Congress, State Legislatures, and the Future of Legislative Studies. Columbus: Ohio State University Press.Google Scholar
Squire, Peverill, and Moncrief, Gary F.. 2015. State Legislatures Today: Politics under the Domes. 2nd ed. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.Google Scholar
Swift, Clint S., and VanderMolen, Kathryn A.. 2016. “Term Limits and Collaboration across the Aisle: An Analysis of Bipartisan Cosponsorship in Term Limited and Non-term Limited State Legislatures.” State Politics & Policy Quarterly 16:198–226.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tandberg, David A. 2013. “The Conditioning Role of State Higher Education Governance Structures.” Journal of Higher Education 84:506–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thom, Michael, and An, Brian. 2017. “Fade to Black? Exploring Policy Enactment and Termination through the Rise and Fall of State Tax Incentives for the Motion Picture Industry.” American Politics Research 45:85–108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomson, Vivian E., and Arroyo, Vicki. 2011. “Upside-Down Cooperative Federalism: Climate Change Policymaking and the States.” Virginia Environmental Law Journal 29:3–61.Google Scholar
Tolbert, Caroline J., Mossberger, Karen, and McNeal, Ramona. 2008. “Institutions, Policy Innovation, and E-Government in the American States.” Public Administration Review 68:549–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
VanderMolen, Kathryn, and Milyo, Jeffrey. 2016. “Public Confidence in the Redistricting Process: The Role of Independent Commissions, State Legislative Polarization, and Partisan Preferences.” State and Local Government Review 48:236–45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Woods, Neal D. 2008. “The Policy Consequences of Political Corruption: Evidence from State Environmental Programs.” Social Science Quarterly 89:258–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wright, Gerald. 2007. “Do Term Limits Affect Legislative Roll Call Voting? Representation, Polarization, and Participation.” State Politics & Policy Quarterly 7:256–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yi, Hongtao, and Feiock, Richard C.. 2014. “Renewable Energy Politics: Policy Typologies, Policy Tools, and State Deployment of Renewables.” Policy Studies Journal 42:391–415.CrossRefGoogle Scholar