Are women more effective lawmakers than men? This study argues that female legislators' consensus-building strengths don't translate equally across party lines. We find minority women in the U.S. House significantly outperform their male counterparts by successfully advancing bills through later legislative stages during periods of polarization (1973-2008). Majority women, while introducing more legislation overall, do not achieve this same level of sustained success for their bills.
Consensus Building in Minority Status
When outnumbered,
Women legislators consistently advance sponsored bills further than male colleagues during the legislative process. This effectiveness persists despite increasing political polarization over decades.
Balancing Representation Across Party Lines
The findings reveal a complex dynamic: minority women excel at building cross-the aisle coalitions while majority women compensate for fewer bill advances by introducing legislation more frequently.
