How do we measure partisan balance in state governments?
This note introduces a new publicly available dataset designed for this purpose.
Data Collection & Measurement Approaches
- Quantitative methods to capture partisanship across all US states.
- Systematic content analysis of government structures and operations.
Key Findings on State Government Dynamics
- Measurement error significantly impacts research outcomes.
- Different approaches yield inconsistent results.
- Simple measures may obscure complex political realities.
The implications for understanding state-level politics are substantial. This means that researchers must carefully consider their measurement strategies to accurately capture partisan balance.
