🚀 go-pugleaf

A few days ago I posted questions to this list about undocumented
7's in the U.S. Congressional Roll Call data and a revised version of
this study.  This morning I received answers to these questions from
ICPSR.  I'm posting the answers here for your information...

1) For a time the code "7" was used in the roll call data to denote a
   "general paired" vote.  Because this does not tell whether the
   person voting favored or opposed the measure or even if the member
   was present or not, many researchers interpret a 7 as missing
   data.  The practice of "general paired" voting died out and has not
   been used in recent years (20 - 30 years?).

2) A reformated version of U.S. Congressional Roll Call Voting
   Records, 1789-1987 is available from ICPSR as ICPSR Study number
   9822.  It is available ON DISKETTE ONLY.  It is said to provide
   data only for the HOUSE, not the Senate, at this time.  During the
   process of reformatting, the data were further cleaned.


jim jacobs
jajacobs@weber.ucsd.edu
university of california san diego