rdf-syntax-grammar
mods:
  schema location: http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3 http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/v3/mods-3-2.xsd
  title info:
    non sort: A
    title: product of the environment
    sub title: environmental constraint, candidate behavior and the speed of democracy
  name:
    name part: Cottrill, James B, 1969-
    role:
      role term: creator
  name:
    name part: Bond, Jon R.
    role:
      role term: thesis advisor.
  type of resource: text
  genre: bibliography
  origin info:
    place:
      place term: txu
    date issued: 2005
    issuance: monographic
  language:
    language term: eng
  physical description:
    form: electronic
    form: remote
  abstract: Elections are the engine that drives democracy. The central question of this dissertation relates to the speed of that engine: How long does it take for elections to reflect changing preferences in the electorate? The findings presented in this dissertation suggest that electoral change is the result of a gradual process of natural selection in which the political environment, rather than district service activity, is the key variable. Comparing elections data across different types of district environment, I find evidence that the environment affects levels of competition and electoral outcomes. Utilizing an event history statistical model to examine various risk factors for electoral defeat, I find that the political environment of the district is the most important factor influencing the risk of defeat even when controlling for district service behaviors. Over time, the district environment operates as a self-correcting mechanism, purging political misfits and replacing them with representatives who better reflect the ideology of the district. Electoral change typically results more from evolution than revolution - it may not occur quickly, and it may not occur in every district, but it does occur when and where it is needed.
  note: by James B. Cottrill.
  note: "Major Subject: Political Science"
  note: Title from author supplied metadata (automated record created on Feb. 17, 2005.)
  note: Vita.
  note: Abstract.
  note: Electronic resource.
  note: Mode of access: World Wide Web.
  note: System requirements: World Wide Web access and Adobe Acrobat Reader.
  note: Ph. D. Texas A&M University 2004.
  note: Includes bibliographical references.
  note: Text (Dissertation).
  subject:
    topic: Major political science
  subject:
    topic: redistricting
  subject:
    topic: vanishing marginals
  subject:
    topic: congressional elections
  subject:
    topic: gerrymandering
  subject:
    topic: incumbency advantage
  identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/1549
  record info:
    record content source: TXA
    record creation date: 050321
    record change date: 20151101053635.0
    record identifier: in00002029454