"What am I looking at?" You are looking at pictures and numbers that attempt to characterize and summarize the activities of all the members of a particular chamber as part of a particular session of Congress. We'll use the meeting of the House of Representatives for the 30th Congress as an example.
The first line is a summary of the post, indicating the session of Congress and the chamber of interest. Embedded is a link to some history of that chamber's session.
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Post Summary: 30th Congress, House of Representatives
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Next is a quote from the most-recently elected president, usually taken from the most recent inaugural address.
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By the theory of our Government majorities rule, but this right is not an arbitrary or unlimited one. It is a right to be exercised in subordination to the Constitution and in conformity to it. One great object of the Constitution was to restrain majorities from oppressing minorities or encroaching upon their just rights. Minorities have a right to appeal to the Constitution as a shield against such oppression.
-President James Polk
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Next is a histogram representing the distribution of Majority Indices among a percentage membership of the chamber. Only a member who participated in 65% or more of the votes with a Yea or a Nay has their Majority Index represented. Then a listing of the primary (and sometimes secondary) modes of the distribution in order to give a sense of the distribution and allow comparison to the distributions of other Congresses. (The binning of the distribution is kept purposefully wide to emphasize the gross groupings.)
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Secondary Mode Bin: 0-10
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Next is a listing of the overall leaders, from the Majority Line perspective. The link embedded in the heading will open a web page allowing you to search for biographical data for the individual members listed in the post.
Only members who have voted either Yea or Nay in 65% or more of the roll call votes of the chamber's session are eligible for being listed in the leaderboards.
Listed first is the Majority Line Leader. This is the member of the chamber with the highest Majority Index, and so is presumably the member who has been in the majority of the Yeas and Nays count most frequently. (This is not quite like being on the winning side, because we don't track the vote threshold required for a particular roll call vote to pass - e.g. cloture votes in the Senate.)
The second listed will either be the Opposition Leader or the Minority Leader. If no member has negative Majority Index, the Minority Leader will be listed and will be the member with the lowest number (yet still positive) Majority Index. If a member has negative Majority Index than what will be listed is the Opposition Leader, who will have the lowest number (most negative) Majority Index.
The next two have to do with an assessment of the network of each member. We assess the quality of their network by taking the percentage of agreement between each member and treat that as a the probability they will agree on a future vote. We then run through a Monte Carlo simulation of 100 votes and see what the mean vote count in agreement with that member is. The higher the vote count, the higher the percentage of the chamber will likely agree with that member, and so the better their network is. Similarly, we list the member with the worst network (lowest percentage of the chamber that would hypothetically agree with them). Because there is some error to the computed mean as an assessment of the typical number of voters in agreement, we'll post all of those who - within the standard error - could be considered the leader. Standard error for our simulation is typically plus or minus one or two votes.
The final two are the pairings of members that result in the highest and lowest percentage of agreement. The highest is considered the most "locked step" with each other, and the lowest is considered the most "out of step" with each other.
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Majority Line Leader: Lincoln (IL) - 48.84
Opposition Leader: Atkinson (VA) - (-11.3)
Best Network: Lincoln (IL) - 44.78%
Worst Network: Buckner (KY) - 35.65%
Locked Step Leader Pair: Hill (TN)/Houston (AL) - 82%
Out Of Step Leader Pair: Ashmun (MA)/Cobb (AL) - 11%
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Bear in mind that lack of agreement does not necessarily mean disagreement, since voting present or being absent from a vote means a member did not agree with either the Yeas or the Nays. That is one reason why we use the phrase "out of step" since it is softer than "in disagreement."
Next is an image broken up into four parts. Going clockwise from the upper left, the images are
- The entire chamber, with Majority Index indicated vertically and some spreading in the horizontal direction loosely based on division.
- Those highest locked-step pairs, shown as a network. Sometimes thicker lines are used to show stronger agreement.
- The entire chamber, with Majority Index indicated vertically and the percentage of the chamber that would vote in agreement as the horizontal axis.
- Those most out-of-step pairs, shown as a network. Sometimes thicker lines are used to show those that are more out-of-step with each other.
The chamber is split into (up to) three different groups based on node shape. The Majority is simply the 50% (plus one voter) that have the highest Majority Index. The Minority - if it exists - are any other voters with non-negative Majority Index. The Opposition - if it exists - are any voters with negative Majority Index. The Majority is indicated by up triangles, The Minority is indicated by circles, and The Opposition is indicated by down triangles. (We will keep watch for any cases where the Majority also includes members with a negative Majority Index.)
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Next is an occasional profile of an historic figure who appears in the chamber. For this example, the historic figure is Abraham Lincoln. A link to a biography is given by their name. Similar quantitative measures are given for this particular figure.
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Profile of Historically Significant Member
Name: Lincoln (IL)
Majority Index: 48.84
VIA Index: 44.78%
Locked Step Colleagues
Taylor (OH) - 77%
Warren (NY) - 72%
Rockwell (CT) - 72%
Dunn (IN) - 71%
Pollock (PA) - 70%
Out Of Step Colleagues
Atkinson (VA) - 20%
Thompson (MS) - 22%
Haralson (GA) - 23%
McKay (NC) - 23%
Cobb (GA) - 23%
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Next, two charts are given, equivalent to the graphs (1) and (3) above. They are repeated because I use Google Charts to provide more interactivity with the data. The graphics given above are useful to highlight outliers and the show the entire chamber's activity as a whole. But displays with over 100 data points labeled with names and states can result in a lot of obscured data. These charts below will help anyone who is interested in sifting through individual data points while remaining within a graphical format.
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Next, listing of the relevant data for all of the members of the chamber is given, with links to the member's biography. Within brackets the number of votes taken, the Majority Index, and the VIA are given.
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Majority
Lincoln (IL)[473, 48.84, 44.78%], Pollock (PA)[474, 47.05, 43.91%], Dunn (IN)[475, 46.74, 43.48%], Taylor (OH)[475, 45.47, 44.35%], Fulton (VA)[476, 42.86, 43.91%], Blackmar (NY)[156, 39.74, 44.35%], Embree (IN)[473, 39.53, 43.91%], Rumsey (NY)[476, 39.5, 43.48%], Nelson (NY)[476, 38.87, 43.04%], Tallmadge (NY)[475, 38.32, 42.61%], Rockwell (CT)[476, 38.24, 43.91%], Farrelly (PA)[475, 37.89, 42.17%], Evans (OH)[476, 37.82, 43.04%], Lawrence (NY)[476, 37.82, 42.61%], Henry (VT)[475, 37.47, 42.61%], Brady (PA)[476, 37.18, 42.17%], Hampton (PA)[476, 37.18, 41.74%], Warren (NY)[476, 36.97, 44.35%], Grinnell (MA)[476, 36.76, 42.17%], Hunt (NY)[475, 36, 41.3%], Hampton (NJ)[474, 35.23, 41.74%], Hubbard (CT)[476, 35.08, 43.91%], Vinton (OH)[475, 34.95, 42.17%], Edwards (OH)[476, 34.87, 43.04%], Slingerland (NY)[476, 34.87, 43.48%], Gott (NY)[476, 34.87, 39.57%], Hale (MA)[476, 34.66, 41.3%], Sherrill (NY)[476, 34.45, 42.17%], Preston (VA)[476, 34.24, 43.04%], Cocke (TN)[476, 34.24, 44.35%], Blanchard (PA)[476, 34.03, 41.3%], St. John (NY)[476, 34.03, 38.7%], Abbott (MA)[476, 34.03, 43.04%], King (MA)[474, 33.97, 43.04%], Thompson (IN)[476, 33.4, 42.17%], Fisher (OH)[476, 33.4, 43.48%], Hall (NY)[476, 33.4, 40.87%], White (NY)[476, 33.4, 41.74%], Holmes (NY)[475, 33.26, 41.3%], Marvin (NY)[476, 33.19, 42.61%], Smith (CT)[476, 33.19, 41.74%], Strohm (PA)[473, 32.98, 43.04%], Conger (NY)[475, 32.84, 42.61%], Newell (NJ)[476, 32.77, 42.17%], Barringer (NC)[473, 32.77, 40.43%], Canby (OH)[474, 32.7, 41.74%], Tompkins (MS)[476, 32.56, 41.3%], Adams (MA)[74, 32.43, 43.04%], Hudson (MA)[476, 32.35, 41.3%], Kellogg (NY)[476, 32.14, 42.17%], Cranston (RI)[474, 32.07, 42.17%], Greeley (NY)[156, 32.05, 43.04%], Irvin (PA)[476, 31.93, 40.87%], Butler (PA)[476, 31.51, 40.87%], Clingman (NC)[476, 31.51, 42.17%], Evans (MD)[476, 31.51, 40.43%], McIlvaine (PA)[474, 31.43, 40%], Houston (DE)[474, 31.43, 42.17%], Gregory (NJ)[476, 31.3, 41.74%], Flournoy (VA)[476, 30.88, 41.3%], Eckert (PA)[473, 30.66, 41.3%], Putnam (NY)[476, 30.25, 41.74%], Smith (IN)[475, 30.11, 41.3%], Van Dyke (NJ)[476, 29.83, 40.43%], Adams (KY)[473, 29.81, 40.87%], Crozier (TN)[473, 29.81, 43.04%], Dixon (CT)[476, 29.62, 42.17%], Duer (NY)[476, 29.41, 39.57%], Collamer (VT)[476, 29.2, 41.74%], Silvester (NY)[476, 28.99, 40.87%], Morehead (KY)[476, 28.99, 41.3%], Freedley (PA)[476, 28.78, 42.17%], Stewart (PA)[476, 28.78, 42.17%], Rockwell (MA)[476, 28.78, 38.26%], Stephens (GA)[476, 28.57, 40.87%], Marsh (VT)[476, 28.36, 41.3%], Reynolds (NY)[473, 28.33, 40%], Dickey (PA)[476, 27.94, 42.61%], Ingersoll (PA)[476, 27.31, 39.57%], Thompson (KY)[473, 26.85, 39.57%], Crowell (OH)[475, 26.74, 40.87%], Hornbeck (PA)[34, 26.47, 33.91%], Jones (GA)[473, 26.22, 40.43%], Outlaw (NC)[474, 26.16, 41.3%], Crisfield (MD)[475, 26.11, 40%], Chapman (MD)[476, 26.05, 40.43%], Shepperd (NC)[476, 25.84, 42.17%], Wentworth (IL)[469, 25.8, 42.17%], King (GA)[473, 25.79, 40.43%], Duncan (KY)[474, 25.32, 39.13%], Roman (MD)[475, 25.26, 39.57%], Barrow (TN)[476, 25, 40.43%], Pendleton (VA)[476, 24.58, 39.57%], Gentry (TN)[474, 24.47, 39.13%], Rose (NY)[476, 24.37, 39.57%], Buckner (KY)[476, 24.37, 35.65%], Mullin (NY)[475, 23.79, 40%], Nes (PA)[474, 23.42, 37.83%], Cabell (FL)[475, 22.95, 39.13%] , Belcher (ME)[476, 22.9, 37.83%], Duncan (OH)[475, 22.74, 36.96%], Hilliard (AL)[473, 22.62, 39.13%], Boyden (NC)[475, 22.53, 40%], Thibodeaux (LA)[473, 22.41, 39.57%], Donnell (NC)[476, 22.06, 39.57%], Mann (MA)[363, 22.04, 38.26%], Palfrey (MA)[473, 21.99, 39.57%], Gayle (AL)[476, 21.85, 39.57%], Goggin (VA)[476, 21.64, 41.74%], Wilson (NH)[476, 21.64, 36.52%], Strong (PA)[468, 21.37, 39.13%], Gaines (KY)[476, 20.59, 37.83%], Ashmun (MA)[475, 20, 39.13%], Tuck (NH)[474, 19.83, 37.83%], Nicoll (NY)[468, 18.8, 40.43%], Cathcart (IN)[469, 18.76, 42.17%], Petrie (NY)[466, 18.67, 41.74%], Schenck (OH)[476, 18.07, 38.7%], Botts (VA)[476, 17.65, 39.57%], McClelland (MI)[467, 16.92, 42.61%], Root (OH)[476, 16.6, 39.13%], Jackson (NY)[110, 16.36, 32.61%], Lawrence (NY)[469, 16.2, 43.04%], Darling (WI)[323, 16.1, 40.87%], Toombs (GA)[473, 15.86, 39.57%], Haskell (TN)[474, 15.82, 35.65%], Stanton (TN)[469, 15.35, 43.48%], Murphy (NY)[468, 15.17, 37.83%], Levin (PA)[471, 15.07, 33.91%], Lynde (WI)[329, 13.98, 38.26%], Birdsall (NY)[467, 13.92, 41.3%], Ingersoll (PA)[468, 13.89, 39.57%], Thompson (IA)[469, 13.86, 40.87%], Maclay (NY)[466, 13.3, 37.83%], Stuart (MI)[468, 13.03, 41.3%], Thompson (PA)[471, 12.95, 38.7%], Thurston (RI)[466, 12.66, 41.3%], Wiley (ME)[470, 12.13, 40.43%], Henley (IN)[466, 11.59, 40.87%], Holmes (SC)[472, 11.44, 35.65%], Clapp (ME)[467, 10.92, 36.52%], Smith (IL)[469, 10.45, 41.74%], Peck (VT)[469, 10.45, 39.57%], Morris (OH)[467, 10.28, 42.17%], Mann (PA)[466, 9.87, 41.3%]
Minority
Giddings (OH)[473, 9.73, 37.83%], Edsall (NJ)[467, 9.64, 34.35%], Faran (OH)[468, 9.4, 41.3%], Turner (IL)[469, 9.38, 40.43%], Starkweather (NY)[466, 9.01, 41.74%], Clark (ME)[468, 8.97, 40.87%], Brown (PA)[469, 8.32, 37.83%], Collins (NY)[469, 8.32, 40.43%], Jenkins (NY)[467, 8.14, 40.43%], Williams (ME)[469, 8.1, 41.3%], McLane (MD)[467, 7.92, 38.7%], Leffler (IA)[470, 7.45, 37.39%], Cummins (OH)[466, 7.3, 39.57%], Dickinson (OH)[467, 7.28, 37.83%], Smart (ME)[469, 7.25, 40.87%], Wilmot (PA)[469, 7.04, 38.7%], Bowdon (AL)[469, 7.04, 36.52%], Pettit (IN)[470, 6.81, 34.78%], Rockhill (IN)[466, 6.65, 40.87%], Johnson (NH)[469, 6.4, 36.96%], Ligon (MD)[468, 6.2, 40.43%], Fries (OH)[466, 6.01, 40.87%], French (KY)[466, 6.01, 38.7%], Holley (NY)[85, 5.88, 25.65%], Bingham (MI)[466, 5.79, 40.43%], Wick (IN)[467, 5.57, 39.57%], McDowell (VA)[470, 5.32, 39.13%], Hammons (ME)[469, 4.9, 38.26%], Peaslee (NH)[469, 4.9, 41.3%], Lahm (OH)[468, 4.49, 40%], Morse (LA)[467, 4.28, 36.96%], Bridges (PA)[398, 4.27, 35.22%], Black (SC)[94, 4.26, 42.17%], Bayly (VA)[467, 3.85, 37.39%], Ritchey (OH)[467, 3.64, 39.57%], Lord (NY)[467, 3.64, 40.43%], Burt (SC)[467, 3, 39.57%], Jameson (MO)[468, 2.99, 34.35%], Bocock (VA)[469, 2.56, 38.7%], La Sére (LA)[468, 2.35, 40%], Woodward (SC)[470, 2.13, 38.7%], Brown (MS)[476, 2.1, 38.26%], Clarke (KY)[466, 1.72, 39.57%], Winthrop (MA)[476, 1.68, 27.83%], Robinson (IN)[466, 1.5, 38.7%], Richardson (IL)[466, 1.5, 36.96%], Simpson (SC)[469, 1.49, 36.52%], Pilsbury (TX)[473, 1.48, 36.96%], Inge (AL)[469, 1.07, 37.83%], Harmanson (LA)[467, 1.07, 38.7%], Johnson (AR)[470, 0.64, 39.13%], Brown (VA)[472, 0.42, 37.39%], Peyton (KY)[467, 0.21, 40%], Chase (TN)[466, 0, 36.52%]
Opposition
Brodhead (PA)[469, -0.21, 38.26%], Thompson (VA)[466, -0.21, 37.83%], Bedinger (VA)[467, -0.64, 38.26%], Venable (NC)[467, -0.86, 40.43%], Ficklin (IL)[469, -1.49, 40%], Cobb (AL)[467, -2.14, 39.57%], Meade (VA)[467, -2.78, 38.26%], Green (MO)[467, -3, 38.26%], Phelps (MO)[466, -3.22, 38.26%], McClernand (IL)[469, -3.41, 39.13%], Featherston (MS)[466, -3.43, 40%], Daniel (NC)[466, -3.86, 38.26%], Kennon (OH)[466, -4.08, 39.57%], Rhett (SC)[466, -4.08, 40.43%], Haralson (GA)[466, -4.08, 35.65%], Bowlin (MO)[467, -4.5, 38.26%], Iverson (GA)[471, -4.67, 36.96%], Hall (MO)[468, -4.91, 39.13%], Harris (AL)[470, -5.11, 40.43%], Kaufman (TX)[466, -5.15, 39.57%], Miller (OH)[466, -5.36, 40.43%], Sawyer (OH)[469, -5.97, 40.43%], Thompson (MS)[467, -6, 36.96%], Boyd (KY)[469, -6.18, 39.13%], Beale (VA)[467, -6.21, 38.26%], Thomas (TN)[466, -6.65, 39.13%], Johnson (TN)[470, -6.81, 38.26%], Sims (SC)[312, -7.05, 36.09%], McKay (NC)[467, -8.14, 38.26%], Houston (AL)[468, -9.19, 39.13%], Wallace (SC)[314, -9.24, 35.22%], Hill (TN)[467, -9.42, 40.43%], Cobb (GA)[467, -10.06, 38.26%], Lumpkin (GA)[466, -10.09, 38.7%], McQueen (SC)[76, -10.53, 39.57%], Jones (TN)[467, -10.71, 39.57%], Atkinson (VA)[469, -11.3, 36.09%]
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Finally, a reference to the source of the raw data used is given.
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Raw data source: Govtrack.us
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