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Ambition, Electoral Competition, and Legislative Representation in Mexico, 1997-2009 Yann P University of New Mexico UNM Digital Repository Political Science ETDs Electronic Theses and Dissertations 1-31-2013 Ambition, Electoral Competition, and Legislative Representation in Mexico, 1997-2009 Yann P. Kerevel Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/pols_etds Part of the Political Science Commons Recommended Citation Kerevel, Yann P.. "Ambition, Electoral Competition, and Legislative Representation in Mexico, 1997-2009." (2013). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/pols_etds/8 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Electronic Theses and Dissertations at UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Political Science ETDs by an authorized administrator of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Yann P. Kerevel Candidate Political Science Department This dissertation is approved, and it is acceptable in quality and form for publication: Approved by the Dissertation Committee: Lonna Rae Atkeson , Chairperson Juan Pablo Micozzi Michael S. Rocca Kathryn Hochstetler James McCann AMBITION, ELECTORAL COMPETITION, AND LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATION IN MEXICO, 1997-2009 by YANN P. KEREVEL B.A. Criminal Justice, Grand Valley State University, 2003 M.A. Latin American Studies, University of New Mexico, 2006 DISSERTATION Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Political Science The University of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico December 2012 ii DEDICATION To Ruth Lucile Hollinger iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation could not have been written without the advice and support of a large number of wonderful people who have graciously dedicated their time and energy. First, I would like to acknowledge the invaluable feedback and support from Lonna Atkeson over the last four years. Lonna Atkeson has constantly challenged me to think about problems in new ways and has graciously read and criticized numerous chapters of this project. She has also become a wonderful friend and has provided me with a great number of opportunities throughout my graduate career. This dissertation and all that I have achieved as a graduate student would not have been possible without her. I could not have asked for a better mentor. Juan Pablo Micozzi has also been an adamant supporter of my research and has graciously provided crucial feedback and support these last several years. It would not have been possible to complete several portions of this dissertation without the skills he has taught me, and has constantly challenged my ideas. This dissertation is a better product because of his support. Michael Rocca was fundamental in guiding me towards the study of legislative politics, has always been willing to help when I’ve been stuck with a particular problem, and has constantly challenged me to always step back from the empirical findings to think about the bigger picture. Kathy Hochstetler has been a wonderful source of advice these last several years, read an early draft of the dissertation, and has always helped me see the forest when all I saw were trees. Jay McCann was gracious enough to serve as an excellent member of the dissertation committee, and has forced to me rethink several assumptions about Mexican politics, and to clarify others. I am grateful for all the advice and support I have received from my dissertation committee members. Sometimes finding the motivation to continue iv working on a project like this is difficult, but I have been extremely lucky to have such a wonderful group of supporters who have encouraged me to keep moving forward. Several professors have been critical in my development as a scholar and I would not be where I am today without their early support and encouragement. Cliff Welch and David Alvarez helped cultivate my interest in Latin American politics as an undergraduate student, and helped guide me towards graduate school. As an M.A. student, it is unlikely I would have decided to continue on towards a Ph.D. without the support of Bill Stanley, Ben Goldfrank, and Judy Bieber. These individuals deserve most of the credit for my early success in graduate school and encouraging me to follow this career path. Conducting the research for this dissertation would not have been possible without the support of a Ph.D. fellowship from the Latin American and Iberian Institute at the University of New Mexico, and funding throughout the years from UNM’s Department of Political Science. Lonna Atkeson also deserves credit for constantly finding me funding. I would also like to thank the Department of Political Science at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México and Jeffrey Weldon for providing me a home in Mexico City while conducting the research for this dissertation. I am very grateful for the year I spent as part of ITAM’s academic community. I cannot overstate the importance of the friendships I developed throughout the years in graduate school. In particular, I would like to thank fellow graduate students Lisa Bryant, Grant Burrier, Jason Morin, Phil Hultquist, Steve Samford, Alex Adams, Meg Edwards, and Ron Nikora for being wonderful friends throughout my time in the program. In addition, I would like to thank Will Veeder, Joe Lenti, Lucy Grinnell, Brian v Stauffer, and Tony Nelson, a wonderful group of Mexicanist scholars who have definitely made all my time in Mexico a more enriching experience. Finally, thank you to Erik Loomis, Colin Snider, and Brad Schreve, a wonderful group of historians. It would not have been possible to keep my sanity throughout graduate school without the friendship of all of these individuals. Best of luck to all! Finally, I would like to thank a number of family members. I would not be where I am today nor would I have been able to complete this project without them. My loving parents LuAnn and Patrice Kerevel have always believed in what I was doing and have always supported me through the ups and downs in this path I have chosen. Mis suegros, Glen and Rosa Bosanko, have taught me nearly everything I know about Mexico. My brother Abel has been a constant source of inspiration for me. Most importantly, the love of my life, María José, has stuck by me throughout this journey. None of this would have ever happened or been possible without her love and support. vi AMBITION, ELECTORAL COMPETITION, AND LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATION IN MEXICO, 1997-2009 by YANN P. KEREVEL B.A. Criminal Justice, Grand Valley State University, 2003 M.A. Latin American Studies, University of New Mexico, 2006 Ph.D. Political Science, University of New Mexico, 2011 ABSTRACT Explaining legislative behavior in the Mexico represents a puzzle given the state of existing theory. Despite a ban on consecutive reelection, Mexican legislators engage in many behaviors thought to be the result of seeking reelection. Furthermore, existing theories of progressive ambition also cannot explain the tendency of many Mexican legislators to seek less prestigious offices after serving for a single term. This dissertation develops a novel theory of political ambition that accounts for the movement up and down the career ladder by Mexican federal legislators, and highlights several behavioral implications of the pursuit of political careers in a context where reelection to the same office is not possible. To test the theory, I collected data on the past and future career choices of all federal deputies who served from 1997 to 2009, as well as data on bill sponsorship, pork-barreling, and roll-call voting. The empirical chapters then examine the influence of electoral competition on careers and behavior, career patterns among deputies and the factors that shape and constrain particular career paths, how pork- vii barreling and bill sponsorship relates to the individual career goals of deputies, and how the pursuit of a political career in this environment encourages frequent party switching. The findings indicate that federal deputies are loyal to those who put them in office and to those who control their future careers. Furthermore, where deputies seek future office matters, as it shapes their behavior while in office. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................XI LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................... XII CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION: AMBITION AND DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATION................................................................................. 1 1.1 THEORETICAL APPROACH AND POTENTIAL CRITICISMS....................................................................... 9 1.2 OUTLINE ................................................................................................................................................... 14 CHAPTER 2: A ‘SNAKES AND LADDERS’ THEORY OF POLITICAL AMBITION: THE IMPLICATIONS OF PURSUING A POLITICAL CAREER IN THE CONTEXT OF NO REELECTION. 19 2.1 EXISTING RATIONAL CHOICE MODELS OF POLITICAL AMBITION....................................................... 21 2.2 RESPONDING TO CONSTITUENT INTERESTS .......................................................................................... 30 2.3 THE ELECTORAL ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................................... 33 2.4 ELECTORAL INSTITUTIONS ..................................................................................................................... 39 2.4.1 The electoral system........................................................................................................................
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