The Political Behavior of Lawyers in the Louisiana House of Representatives (original) (raw)

The article investigates the political behavior of lawyers within the Louisiana House of Representatives, particularly focusing on whether their legal background leads to distinct political behaviors compared to non-lawyer legislators. By analyzing roll call votes from 1972 to 1975 and conducting personal interviews with members, the study examines the influence of a significant lawyer presence in the legislature. It identifies five theses related to the alleged cohesiveness, influence, and voting patterns of lawyer-legislators, ultimately questioning the validity of the dominant bloc thesis which posits that lawyers act as a politically cohesive group.