Voteview for the House of Representatives and Senate runs under
Microsoft Windows 3.x, Windows for Workgroups 3.x, Windows 95 and 98,
Windows NT, as well as compatible operating systems (i.e., OS/2's
Win-OS/2). It was designed to be user-friendly, with
substantial on-line "help" available. Voteview for the House
of Representatives is also available in a DOS version that has
only a subset of the functions contained in the Windows version.
Voteview is owned and distributed by Carnegie Mellon University
and is provided for free as a service to the research community.
Please direct questions by email to
Keith Poole (KPoole@uh.edu)
or
Howard Rosenthal (rosentha@princeton.edu)
1.1 Hardware Requirements
Voteview for Windows requires the following minimum hardware
configuration to run:
IBM PC or compatible computer;
Microsoft Windows 3.1;
Mouse or other pointing device;
4 Megabytes of system memory (RAM);
500 kilobytes (Kb) of disk space for program files;
Up to 40 megabytes (Mb) of disk space for House data files if
using files from the hard disk (Depending on how many of the
data files are installed). *** include Senate requirements ***
The following items are optional:
High resolution display (800 x 600 or higher) - recommended
Windows supported printer
Windows supported sound card
1.2 Installation
You can install Voteview for Windows on a standalone system or
on a LAN server.
Standalone system installation:
Make sure Windows is booted up and ready.
1. Insert the installation floppy disk or CD-ROM into the
appropriate drive.
2. Click on the Program Manager menu item 'File,' then click on
the 'Run' menu heading.
3. Type x:install where x is the drive letter you are using
(e.g., 'a' for the A floppy drive).
4. Press enter or click on the OK button.
5. Follow the directions given in the installation program.
LAN installation:
Contact us via email.
1.3 Glossary of Key Voteview Terms
Attachment A text note, a picture, or a sound that is
associated with a particular House
or roll call. Text attachments have a txt extension in their
file name, picture attachments have a bmp extension, and audio
attachments have a wav extension. They must be in the Voteview
data directory. Text attachments can be edited from within
Voteview.
Balloon Help A form of on-line help available within Voteview
that gives you quick
instructions on each object of the current window. To activate
balloon help, either select the menu item for it in the window
or click on the button with a picture of a balloon in it. Then,
move the mouse cursor to any area of the screen. As the mouse
passes over objects in the window, balloon help pops up for that
object. To end balloon help, click the left mouse button or
press any key (it's there on the keyboard).
Checked The presence of a check mark next to a menu item
indicates it is active.
Click A single press of the left mouse button.
Double-Click Two clicks in quick succession.
Dropdown Box A list box (see below) that displays its list only
when the downward facing
arrow in the box is clicked. It does, however, display at all
times the item from the list that is currently selected. An
example of a dropdown box are the color default dropdown boxes
in the Edit Preferences window.
Entry Area A rectangular area that accepts user input typed in
from the keyboard. An
entry area must first be active before it can accept input. A
blinking vertical line within the entry area indicates that
entry area is active. If you would like to activate an inactive
entry area, click on it, or press the TAB key on the keyboard
until you see the blinking vertical line.
Greyed-Out The state of a button or menu item when it cannot
logically be selected. It
will appear grey instead of the usual black and will do nothing
if clicked.
Example: Clicking Rating on the View Matching Roll Calls window
without having selected any roll calls.
List Box A rectangular area that contains a list of things. If
the list is too lengthy to
fit within the confines of the box, arrow buttons and a scroll
bar appear on the sides. Click on the upward facing arrow button
to move up in the list, or on the downward facing arrow button
to move down in the list. Click and drag the scroll bar to move
quickly through the list. The position of the scroll bar
indicates the relative place you are within the list.
Multiple select A method to select multiple items from a list,
performed as follows:
a) Click and hold left mouse button on the first item you want
and then move the mouse pointer up or down to select multiple
adjacent items. This works for selecting items in a row.
b) Click on the first item (don't hold) you want. Then press and
hold the SHIFT key on your keyboard while you click on the last
item you want. This selects these two items as well as every
item in between.
c) Click on the first item (don't hold) you want. Then press and
hold the CTRL key on your keyboard while you click on another
item you want. This selects these two items only.
Note: These three methods can be combined as long as method (c)
is used. For example, to select two sets of items where the
items are adjacent to the other items in the set but not to the
items in the other set, use method (a) to select the first set
of items, then press the CTRL key, and use method (a) again for
the second set of items.
Select A click on a list or menu item to choose it.
Toggle An action on a single item that reverses the previous
action, like a light
switch. Example: Clicking on the Ideological/US Map button in
the View Matching Roll Calls window switches from an Ideological
view to a US Map view and vice versa.
2.0 Running Voteview
To run Voteview, double-click on the Voteview icon in the
Program Manager. Alternatively, double-click on the voteview.exe
file under the File Manager.
To begin your search, click on the appropriate Search menu item
under the File menu heading. Double clicking anywhere on the
title screen is a short cut and accomplishes the same thing.
2.0.1 Title Screen Menu Description
File
Search Begins your Voteview search
Edit Preferences Customize Voteview to your preferences for
subsequent use
Exit Quits Voteview
Help
Explain Get detailed help for the title screen
2.1 Voteview Preferences
Voteview preferences are user-modifiable settings that the
program uses from one session to the next. They can be changed
to suit the desires of each particular user. The preference
file, voteview.prf, is 270 bytes in length and is stored in the
c:\windows subdirectory.
The color defaults are changed as follows:
1. Click on the downward facing arrow on the desired dropdown
box.
2. Click on the new desired color from the list.
3. Click the Save button.
Roll call viewing defaults are changed as follows:
1. Click the square or circle to the left of the desired item.
2. Click the Save button.
2.1.1 Color Defaults
Yea Color This selects the color of 'Yea' vote tokens and
districts, as well as a 'Yea-Yea' cross-tab
vote combination.
Nay Color This selects the color of 'Nay' vote tokens and
districts, as well as a 'Nay-Nay' cross-tab
vote combination.
NA Color This selects the color of 'Not Available' vote tokens
and districts
Yea Nay Color This selects the color of cross-tabbed vote
tokens, for a 'Yea' on the current
roll call, and a 'Nay' on the other one.
Nay Yea Color This selects the color of cross-tabbed vote
tokens, for a 'Nay' on the current
roll call, and a 'Yea' on the other one.
Starting Data Color This selects the color of the (relative)
minimum imported quantitative variable data. A
number of user-selected intermediary shades is created
between this color and the ending
data color, with shades closer to this color being on the
relatively low end of the data.
Ending Data Color This selects the color of the (relative)
maximum imported quantitative variable data. A
number of user-selected intermediary shades is created
between this color and the starting
data color, with shades closer to this color being on the
relatively high end of the data.
2.1.2 Roll Call Viewing Defaults
Lower Case Tokens A cross in the box to the immediate left
indicates tokens will be displayed as lowercase,
rather than uppercase letters. This may aid visibility in
later Houses with many legislators.
Ideological Map A filled in circle to the immediate left
indicates the default view type an Ideological map.
US Map Display A filled in circle to the immediate left
indicates the default view type a US map.
2.1.3 Preferences Buttons
Done This accepts your changes (if any) in Voteview's
preferences for the current session, but
does not save them on disk.
Save This accepts your changes (if any) in Voteview's
preferences for the current session, and
saves them to disk for future sessions.
Cancel This rejects your changes (if any) in Voteview's
preferences for the current session, and
goes back to the title screen.
Hint: Pressing the ESC key on the keyboard performs the same
function.
Help Get detailed on-line help for this window.
(Balloon Picture) Get balloon help for this window.
2.2 Voteview Search Selection
The Voteview search type is selected from this window.
1. Click the option button of the code type you want to search
with. The code types available are: none (strictly
chronological), Issue, Clausen, and Peltzman. The default code
type is None.
2. Select or multiple select the Houses you want to search.
3. Click the Start button to continue.
Hint: If you are only selecting one house to search,
double-clicking on a House is the same as selecting it and
clicking Start.
If the code type is None, skip to section 2.4.
2.2.1 Voteview Search Selection Buttons
Start Continue with the search.
Done Cancels this search and go back to title screen.
Hint: Pressing the ESC key on the keyboard performs the same
function.
Help Get detailed on-line help for this window.
(Balloon Picture) Get balloon help for this window.
2.3 Subject Code Selection
1. Select or multiple select the subject code you want to search
through in the House you have selected.
2. Click Start to continue.
Hint: If you are only selecting one subject code,
double-clicking on it is the same as selecting it and clicking
Start.
3.0 View Matching Roll Calls
The list of roll calls which matched the requested search type
(none, Issue, Clausen, or Peltzman), in the House(s) you
selected is displayed in the upper list box. The lower list box
is your viewing queue. It displays the list of roll calls you
will be performing actions upon.
1. Select or multiple select the roll calls you wish to
manipulate.
2. Click the Add button to add them to your viewing queue.
Hint: Double-clicking quickly adds a single roll call to your
viewing queue.
3. Click the appropriate button to perform the desired action.
Note: Buttons and menu items greyed-out are not available to be
used. This is because no roll calls have been selected, or two
roll calls are not selected for a cross-tabulation.
3.0.1 Matching Roll Calls Menu
Options
Rating Generates a 0-100 rating for the legislators on the
roll calls in your viewing queue.
Track Displays the votes of selected legislators on roll calls
in your viewing queue.
Cross-Tab Cross-tabulates and displays two roll calls
simultaneously
Text Attachment Views a text note that has been attached to
this House.
Picture Attachment Views a picture that has been attached to
this House.
Audio Attachment Plays a sound that has been attached to this
House.
Note: Checked attachments indicates its presence.
View
Ideological Displays selected roll calls on an Ideological map
with D-NOMINATE scalings.
US Map Displays selected roll calls on a US map.
Note: A checked view type indicates Voteview will display the
roll calls you selected in the view type that is checked, but
only when the Start button, the Cross-Tab button, or the Import
button is clicked.
Help
Explain Gives detailed help for this window.
Balloon Help Activates balloon help for this window.
3.0.2 Matching Roll Calls Buttons
Top Half
Except for Start, these buttons are general in their action.
They don't act specifically on the roll calls in the viewing
queue.
Start Display the selected roll calls.
Done Cancel the display of matching roll calls and go back to
search type screen.
Hint: Pressing the ESC key on the keyboard performs the same
function.
Help Get detailed on-line help for this window.
(Balloon Picture) Get balloon help for this window.
Ideological/US Map Click this button to toggle how the selected
data is displayed.
Keyword Click on this button to narrow the list of matching
roll calls by keyword(s).
Import Imports and displays user quantitative variable files
with a .qvd filename extension.
Bottom Half
These act specifically in concert with the contents of your
viewing queue.
Add Adds the selected roll calls in the upper list box to your
viewing queue (lower list box).
Remove Removes roll calls that are selected in your queue. Acts
on selected roll calls in the lower
list box.
Select All Selects and adds every single roll call in the upper
list box.
Clear Eliminates every roll call in your viewing queue.
Rating Generates a 0-100 rating for the legislators on the roll
calls in your viewing queue.
Track Displays the votes of selected legislators on roll calls
in your viewing queue.
Cross-Tab Cross-tabulates and displays two roll calls
simultaneously
3.1 Keyword Search
You can narrow or expand the list of roll calls that matched
your initial search request by doing a keyword search. This
powerful mechanism allows for complex searches, complete with
Boolean logical operators, based on any piece of information
about a roll call that is stored by Voteview.
1. Enter the keyword(s) you want to search for in the entry
areas provided. Use the mouse or TAB key to move from one entry
area to another.
2. Modify the logical operators in the secondary or tertiary
entry areas as desired.
3. Click Start.
Note: The list of roll calls that match your search request will
be placed in the upper list box.
3.1.1 Keyword Search Entry Areas
The first entry area is called the primary keyword entry area.
It can be used alone. For the secondary and tertiary keyword
entry areas to function, the logical operator dropdown boxes to
its left must be changed from (none) to a valid operater for
them to function. These latter two are logically evaluated (see
section 3.1.4) in conjuction with the primary keyword entry area
-- not with each other.
Simply type the desired keyword in the entry areas. Use the
mouse (click on the entry area you want to work with), or press
the TAB key on your keyboard to move from one entry area to
another.
Note: Keyword searches are case insenstive -- there is no
distinction in searching between upper and lower cases.
3.1.2 Keyword Search Dropdown Boxes
To activate the secondary and/or the tertiary keyword entry
areas, you must also define how they are to be related logically
to the keyword in the primary keyword entry area. Initially, the
logical operators for the latter two entry areas are set to
(none), meaning that these entry areas are not active. To change
the logical operator, click on the down arrow and then select
the desired logical operator that is to be used with to relate
the entry area to the right with the primary entry area.
3.1.3 Keyword Search Buttons
Start Commences the keyword search.
Cancel Cancels the keyword search and goes back to the View
Matching Roll Calls window.
Hint: Pressing the ESC key on the keyboard performs the same
function.
Help Get detailed on-line help for this window.
(Balloon Picture) Get balloon help for this window.
3.1.4 Keyword Search Operators
Voteview offers three logical operators for keyword searches;
AND, OR, and NOT.
And
The And logical operator performs a logical conjunction between
two expressions. If and only if both expressions evaluate as
True, does the result evaluate to True. If either expression is
False, the result is False.
Figure 3.1.4.1 - And Truth Table
Keyword 1 Keyword 2 Result
True True True
True False False
False True False
False False False
This operator returns only those roll calls that contain both
keywords. For example, searching for "Honesty" And "Jim Wright"
in the 99th House will probably return no matching roll calls.
Or
The Or logical operator performs a logical disjunction between
two expressions. If either or both expressions evaluate to True,
the result also evaluates to True. Only if both expressions are
False is the result False.
Figure 3.1.4.2 - Or Truth Table
Keyword 1 Keyword 2 Result
True True True
True False True
False True True
False False False
This operator returns all those roll calls that contain either
of the two keywords. For example, searching for "Increase
Congressional Pay" Or "Increase Congressional Pensions" in most
Houses will likely return a sizeable list of matching roll calls.
Not
The Not logical operator in the real world performs logical
negation. If a single expression evaluates as True, the result
is False. The reverse is true if the expression is False. In
Voteview, the Not operator is treated as "And Not". This returns
true only if the first expression is true and the second
expression is false.
Figure 3.1.4.3 - Voteview 'Not' (And-Not) Truth Table
Keyword 1 Keyword 2 Result
True True False
True False True
False True False
False False False
A better English word to describe the function of this operator
is "without." The keyword search returns those roll calls
containing a particular keyword but lacking a second one. An
example would be the search request of ["Aviation" Not "Safety"]
which returns all aviation bills not dealing with safety.
3.1.5 Triple Keyword Searches
If three keywords are entered to be searched for, with two
logical operators, the expression is evaluated for a match in
this manner:
((keyword1 op1 keyword2) op2 keyword3)
Where keywordx is one of the three keywords and opx is one of
the two logical operators.
3.2 Importing Quantitative Variable Data
User entered quantitative data can be imported into Voteview and
displayed in a selectable number of shades on the US Map display
(see section 5.0). These files have a qvd extension in their
filename.
1. Click Import from the View Matching Roll Calls window.
2. Click Select on the Import window.
3. Select the desired data file from the Open window, then click
Start.
4. Adjust the number of intervals the data is to be split into
by clicking on the up or down arrow next to the number of
intervals or enter the number directly into the entry box. The
minimum is 2 intervals and the maximum is 50 intervals.
5. Click the cross-tab check box if you would like to cross tab
the data with a previously selected roll call.
6. Click Start to the display the data.
3.2.1 Import Buttons
Start Imports and displays the currently selected data file.
Done Cancels the data import and goes back to the View Matching
Roll Calls window.
Hint: Pressing the ESC key on the keyboard performs the same
function.
Print Prints the data in the currently selected data file.
Help Get detailed on-line help for this window.
(Balloon Picture) Get balloon help for this window.
Select Displays a list of all quantitative variable data files
in the current directory and allows
selection of data files in different directories.
3.2.2 Import Text Boxes
There are two text boxes on the Import window. The upper text
box displays the details that are contained within the currently
selected data file. The lower text box displays the actual data
in the data file, listed in the form:
state number, district number, data for the district
3.2.3 Import Options
Click on the upward facing arrow to increase the number of
intervals the data will be split into (in other words, the
number of shades) for display on the US Map. Click on the
downward facing arrow for the opposite effect. Alternatively,
the entry area with the number of intervals currently selected
can be clicked and then another number of intervals can then be
directly entered.
If cross tab is selected (indicated by a cross to its left),
then the imported data will be cross tabbed with a roll call
that was previously selected in the View Matching Roll Calls
window. Districts voting Yea will have a white filled circle in
the center of the district, those voting Nay will have a black
filled circle in the center of the district, and those not
voting will have a grey filled circle.
Note: If cross tab is greyed out, then a roll call had not been
selected prior to opening the Import window.
3.2.4 Viewing the Import File Color Key
The color key option under the US map displays differently than
the regular color key (see section *). The imported quantitative
variable data was divided on the main import window into a
user-selected number of intervals (default: 8). These intervals
are colored in the different shades between the Yea vote color
for the lowest (default: red) and the Nay vote color for the
highest (default: blue). Thus, if the value of data is closer to
the low end, its shade will more closely resemble the Yea vote
color and vice versa.
To scroll through the intervals on the color key (if there are
more than 8), drag the scroll bar by clicking on the rectangle
and moving it left or right, click to the left or right of the
rectangle, or click on the arrows to move between imported
quantitative variable intervals.
3.2.5 Creating an Import File
Creating a file to import into later Voteview sessions is fairly
easy. Use a text editor and save the file with a qvd extension.
The file must have the following elements:
1. The first line is the title of the data set.
2. Any subsequent lines are the "description" of the data set.
This description can be of any length. To mark the end of the
description, enter a "-" (hyphen) by itself immediately after
the last line of the description.
3. The rest of the lines in the file will be treated as data.
The format of the data is as follows:
state number, district number, data for the district
The following is an example quantitative variable data file that
can be imported:
Number of Widgets Sold, 1845-1846
It was a good year for the Widget Corporation, as sales climbed
throughout
the United States. Relatively poor results in Northern states
were overshadowed
by spectacular Southern gains in Widget sales.
-
6,1,0
12,1,2000
21,1,4000
23,1,6000
24,1,8000
41,1,10000
48,1,12000
51,1,14000
3.3 Viewing Legislator Ratings
Voteview for Windows has the capability to create 0-100 ratings
for all legislators in a selected House based on any number of
roll calls arranged in a model pattern.
1. Select the desired roll calls from which a rating will be
generated from the View Matching Roll Calls window.
2. Click on the Rating button.
3. Adjust the roll calls into "proper" votes to form a model
against which legislators' voting records will be compared.
4. Click Start.
3.3.1 Legislator Ratings Buttons
Start Generates legislator ratings and displays them in a new
window.
Done Cancels legislator ratings and goes back to the View
Matching Roll Calls window.
Hint: Pressing the ESC key on the keyboard performs the same
function.
Help Get detailed on-line help for this window.
(Balloon Picture) Get balloon help for this window.
Toggle Changes the model vote from yea to nay or vice versa.
Hint: Double-clicking on the model vote performs the same
function.
Reverse Toggles all model votes.
All Changes all model votes to vote indicated on the
face of the button.
3.3.2 Ratings Results
Once the model vote pattern is selected and Start is clicked,
Voteview calculates ratings for every legislator in the selected
House. The time needed to create such ratings is highly
dependent on the number of legislators and the number of roll
calls in the model. Voteview attempts to estimate the time to
completion (ETC) and notes it as calculations proceed.
After calculations are complete, the legislators and their
individual ratings can be viewed and scrolled through. In the
Info panel on the bottom of the Results window, the legislator
with the highest rating is noted as well as the one with the
lowest rating. Next to them in red are the number of legislators
who match the rating of the highest (or lowest) rated
legislator. In addition, the average (mean) rating of all the
legislators is displayed at the botton of the panel.
3.3.2.1 Ratings Results Buttons
OK Finishes displaying ratings results and returns to the main
legislator ratings window.
Save Saves the results of the legislator ratings request in a
disk file (ASCII format).
Print Prints the legislator ratings.
Help Get detailed on-line help for this window.
(Balloon Picture) Get balloon help for this window.
3.4 Legislator Tracking
Voteview can track the votes of one or more legislators in a
selected House on the selected roll calls, allowing you to
quickly ascertain the votes of these legislators on the desired
roll calls.
1. Select the desired roll calls to track legislators' votes
upon.
2. Click on the Track button.
3. Select or multiple select the legislator(s) you wish to track.
4. Click Start.
3.4.1 Legislator Tracking Buttons
Start Tracks legislator votes and displays the results in a new
window.
Done Cancels legislator tracking and goes back to the View
Matching Roll Calls window.
Hint: Pressing the ESC key on the keyboard performs the same
function.
Help Get detailed on-line help for this window.
(Balloon Picture) Get balloon help for this window.
3.4.2 Legislator Tracking Results
After Voteview finishes tracking legislator votes on the
selected roll calls, it displays the results on a new window.
The format of the entries are "vote, overall roll call result,
roll call description." Multiple legislators are separated by a
blank entry. The panel on the bottom right of the window
displays the amount of yea, nay, or n/a votes for the
legislator(s).
Voteview can not handle more than some 1790 entries. The total
number of entries in any tracking request is the product of
number of legislators and the number of selected roll calls.
3.4.2.1 Tracking Results Buttons
Done Finishes displaying tracking results and returns to the
main legislator tracking window.
Save Saves the results of the legislator tracking request in a
disk file (ASCII format).
Print Prints the legislator trackings.
Help Get detailed on-line help for this window.
(Balloon Picture) Get balloon help for this window.
4.0 Ideological Map
Voteview displays the current roll call vote (from the queue of
selected roll calls) on a "spatial" map based on Poole-Rosenthal
D-NOMINATE ideological scores. For an explanation of this
ideological scaling, see "Patterns of Congressional Voting,"
American Journal of Political Science, 1991, pages 228-278.
4.0.1 Ideological Map Menu
File
Save as... Saves roll call data to a disk file in ASCII format.
Spreadsheet Output Saves roll call data to a disk file in ASCII
format ready for spreadsheet import.
Print Prints roll call data to a selected printer.
Print Map Prints the Ideological Map itself to a selected
printer.
Options
Roll Call Info Displays detailed information about the
currently displayed roll call.
Statistics Displays roll call statistics.
Cross-Tab Statistics Displays roll call statistics for
cross-tabulated roll calls.
Inquire Toggles 'inquire' mode for discovering legislators on
the Ideological map.
Find Circles a particular legislator on an Ideological map.
Text Attachment Views a text note (if any) that has been
attached to this roll call.
Picture Attachment Views a picture that has been attached to
this roll call.
Audio Attachment Plays a sound that has been attached to this
roll call.
Redraw Redraws the Ideological map from scratch.
US Map Display Displays the current roll call on a US Map.
Note: Checked attachments indicates their presence.
View
Next Skips to the next roll call in the selected roll call
queue.
Previous Skips to the previous roll call in the selected roll
call queue.
First Skips to the first roll call in the selected roll call
queue.
Last Skips to the last roll call in the selected roll call
queue.
Jump to... Jumps to a user-selected roll call in the selected
roll call queue.
Errors Only Views D-NOMINATE errors.
Not Available Views 'not available' votes
Color Key Displays the color key to the various symbols on the
map.
Help
Explain Gives detailed help for this window.
4.0.2 Ideological Map Buttons
Done Finishes viewing roll calls on the Ideological map.
Info Displays detailed information about the currently
displayed roll call. (See section 4.2.1)
4.1 File Options
Voteview can output roll call information to a disk file (in
either straight ASCII or spreadsheet-ready ASCII format) or to a
connected printer. This information includes the following
fields on individual legislators:
1. House Number
2. ID #1
3. ID #2
4. State Code
5. Congressional District
6. State Name
7. Party Code
8. X Coordinate of Legislator
9. Y Coordinate of Legislator
10. Vote Code
See Appendix for code lists and explanations.
4.2.0 Roll Call Options
Options on particular roll calls.
4.2.1 Roll Call Information
This provides detailed information on the currently selected
roll call. This also includes a list of all legislators in the
current house who are not shown (votes not available), the
amount of legislators voting Yea, Nay, those not voting,
D-NOMINATE scaling errors, and the P.R.E. for the roll call.
4.2.2 Statistics
Voteview calculates various statistics on each roll call. These
include the breakdown by party of the roll call votes and the
number of [not mem., yes, paired yes, ann. yes, ann. no, paired
no, no, {blank}, and present] votes.
4.2.2.1 Statistics Buttons
Done Finishes displaying roll call statistics and returns to
the Ideological map.
Save Saves roll call statistics in a disk file (ASCII format).
Print Prints the roll call statistics on a connected printer.
Help Get detailed on-line help for this window.
(Balloon Picture) Get balloon help for this window.
4.2.3 Cross Tab Statistics
Statistics are available on cross-tabbed roll calls. This
includes the breakdown of yea-yea, yea-nay, nay-yea, and nay-nay
votes, as well as Yule's Q and Chi-Square statistics for each
particular political party.
Click on a party name to get these statistics for the party.
4.2.3.1 Cross Tab Statistics Buttons
OK Finishes displaying roll call cross-tab statistics and
returns to the Ideological map.
4.2.4 Inquire
After selecting Inquire from the Options menu, a check appears
beside the option to indicate that "inquire mode" is turned on
until such time as it is turned off by selecting Inquire again
(toggling).
1. Once "inquire mode" is on, clicking on any legislator token
will pop up a window indicating the legislator name and state
symbolized by the selected token.
2. Click OK to quit viewing the current legislator. Repeat as
desired.
3. When finished, toggle the Inquire menu item to turn off
"inquire mode."
4.2.5 Find
Selecting this menu item pops up a window which allows the
location of tokens symbolizing particular legislators. The list
box contains the names of all legislators in the current House,
and selected legislators are colored according to their vote on
the selected roll call and color preferences.
1. Click on the desired legislator.
2. Click Start to locate the token (it will be circled in black).
3. Click Done to end the Find process.
Note: Double-clicking on a legislator name is a short cut for
clicking on the legislator and then clicking Start.
4.2.6 Attachments
Select text, audio, or picture attachment to view any attachment
that is associated with the selected roll call. All attachments
must be located in the Voteview data directory along with other
house files. The following format must be used in naming
attachments in order to associate them with houses and roll
calls:
housenum_rollcallnum.extension
Where housenum is the number of the House, rollcallnum the
number of the desired roll call, and extension the proper file
extension of the particular attachment (txt for text files, wav
for audio files, and bmp for picture files).
Note: Attachments associated with houses only (not also with
roll calls) are in the format:
housenum.extension
Click OK to exit to the main ideological map window.
4.2.6.1 Text Attachments
Only text, however, can be created, modified, and saved within
Voteview. Simply type in the entry area of the Attachment
window. The mini-text editor accepts the cursor location keys,
ENTER, and TAB. Click save when done editing the text
attachment.
If you compose text attachments externally, they must be in
regular ASCII format.
4.2.6.2 Audio Attachments
If a sound card is installed in your system and is available for
use, audio attachments for particular roll calls can be heard.
Sound files must be in regular WAV format.
Click on the play button to start audio playback, and the stop
button to end playback.
4.2.6.3 Picture Attachments
BMP format files can be attached to roll calls. These files can
be at most 8 bit color (256 colors), and at most 470 X 280 in
size (measured in pixels).
4.3 View Options
You can skip around in the selected roll call queue by jumping
to the next, previous, first, last, or user-selected roll call.
D-NOMINATE scaling errors, legislators not voting, and a color
key for Ideological map tokens can also be viewed.
Note that the numbers for jumping to a user-selected roll call
are ordinal; hence, jumping to '5' means jumping to the fifth
roll call, not roll call #5.
5.0 US Map Display
Voteview displays the current roll call (from the entire queue
of selected roll calls) on a standard Congressional District Map
of the United States. Each district is colored based on the vote
of the legislator from that particular district and the current
color preferences. The maps are from "The Historical Atlas of
Political Parties in the United States," by Kenneth C. Martis.
Party code displays exactly match the atlas.
5.0.1 US Map Menu
File
Save as... Saves roll call data to a disk file in ASCII
format.
Spreadsheet Output Saves roll call data to a disk file in
ASCII format ready for spreadsheet import.
Print Prints roll call data to a selected printer.
Print Map Prints the US map itself to a selected printer.
Options
Roll Call Info Displays detailed information about the
currently displayed roll call.
Cities Displays districts and their votes within major cities.
Statistics Displays roll call statistics.
Cross-Tab Statistics Displays roll call statistics for
cross-tabulated roll calls.
Inquire Toggles 'inquire' mode for discovering legislators on
the Ideological map.
Find Circles a particular legislator on an Ideological map.
District Vote Breakdown Displays the breakdown of votes in
multiple-member congressional districts.
Text Attachment Views a text note (if any) that has been
attached to this roll call.
Picture Attachment Views a picture that has been attached to
this roll call.
Audio Attachment Plays a sound that has been attached to this
roll call.
Redraw Redraws the Ideological map from scratch.
Ideological Map Displays the current roll call on a D-NOMINATE
Ideological Map.
Note: Checked attachments indicates their presence.
View
Next Skips to the next roll call in the selected roll call
queue.
Previous Skips to the previous roll call in the selected roll
call queue.
First Skips to the first roll call in the selected roll call
queue.
Last Skips to the last roll call in the selected roll call
queue.
Jump to... Jumps to a user-selected roll call in the selected
roll call queue.
Zoom Zooms into and out of the US Map, based on where the
mouse is clicked.
Center Centers display of the US map around where the mouse
is clicked on screen.
State Only Displays single states only instead of the entire
US map.
Color Key Displays the color key to the various symbols on
the map.
Help
Explain Gives detailed help for this window.
5.0.2 US Map Buttons
OK Finishes viewing roll calls on the Ideological map.
5.1 File Options
See section 4.1
5.2.0 Roll Call Options
Options on particular roll calls.
5.2.1 Roll Call Information
See section 4.2.1. Note that errors and P.R.E. for the roll call
are not available from the US map.
5.2.2 Cities
Major cities with multiple congressional districts in the House
of the selected roll call can be displayed with this option.
Shadings are similar to the US map display. Click OK to exit the
City window.
5.2.3 Statistics
See section 4.2.2
5.2.4 Cross Tab Statistics
See section 4.2.3
5.2.5 Inquire
See section 4.2.4
5.2.6 Find
See section 4.2.5. Note that located legislators are highlighted
in blinking yellow.
5.2.7 District Vote Breakdown
This reveals the vote breakdown of the House delegation from
multiple-member congressional districts, expressed in "yea-nay"
form.
5.2.8 Attachments
See section 4.2.6
5.3 View Options
See section 5.3 for Next, Previous, First, Last, and Jump To
explanation.
5.3.1 Zoom
This allows zooming in and out of the US map display to increase
or decrease viewable detail.
1. Clicking on this menu item brings up a secondary menu. Click
to select one of four types of zoom in the secondary zoom menu:
large zoom in, large zoom out, small zoom in, and small zoom
out. "Zoom mode" is turned on.
2. Click anywhere on the US map to execute the selected zoom
action on that particular location.
3. Toggle "zoom mode" to off by clicking again on the selected
zoom type or by using a keyboard shortcut.
5.3.2 Center
After selecting this menu item, "center mode" is turned on.
1. Click anywhere on the US map to redraw the US map centered
around the clicked location.
2. Toggle "center mode" to off by clicking again on the Center
menu item.
5.3.3 State Only
Only single states can be viewed on the US map display if
desired.
1. Click the State Only menu item. This pops up the State
selection window and activates "state mode."
2. Select the desired state from the list box by clicking.
3. Click OK to begin viewing the state. (Double-clicking on the
state does the same thing)
4. Toggle "state mode" to off by clicking again on the State
Only menu item.
5.3.4 Color Key
Displays a five-panel color key to explain the shadings of the
US map display. They are coded 1 through 5. Panel 2 through 4
are for multiple member districts.
1. Yea vote
2. More Yea than Nay
3. Equal Yea and Nay votes
4. More Nay than Yea
5. Nay Vote
Appendix A - Issue Codes
21. Abortion/Care of deformed newborns
25. Agriculture
84. Airlines/Airports/Airline Industry
39. Alien and Sedition Laws
7. Amnesty (all wars)
12. Arms Control
23. B-1 Bomber
47. Banking and Finance
27. Breeder Reactor
4. Budget resolution
92. CIA/Spying/Intelligence
48. Campaign Contributions, Lobbying/House Ethics Campaign Laws
97. Central America
78. Children (aid, infant mortality, etc.)
20. Civil Rights/Desegregation/Busing/Affirmative Action
42. Civil Service and Patronage
11. Coal Mining Regulation/Strip Mining/Black Lung
87. Communists/Communism/Unamerican Activities
63. Congressional Pay and Benefits
51. Constitutional Amendments
29. Consumer Protection Agency/Consumer Protection
90. Debt Ceilings
54. Disputed Elections to Congress
45. Education
41. Election of House Officers
43. Election of the Speaker of the House
49. Electoral Votes
9. Emergency Fuel Assistance
96. Energy
67. Exchange Rates
82. Firearms
2. Fish and Wildlife
15. Food Stamps/Food Programs
1. Gasoline rationing/allocation
95. Handicapped
22. Homosexuality
88. Housing/Housing Programs/Rent Control
16. Human Rights
66. Humanitarian Assistance (foreign)
59. Immigration/Naturalization
75. Impeachment of President
38. Impeachments and Investigations
77. Interstate Commerce/Anti-trust/Restraint of Commerce
98. Iran
74. Judiciary
93. Korean War
32. MX Missile
56. Mediterranean Pirates
55. Military Pensions/Veterans Benefits
26. Minimum Wage
73. Minorities (non-black)
81. Narcotics
53. National Bank
28. Neutron Bomb
34. Nuclear Power
91. Nuclear Weapons
68. Nullification/Secession/Reconstruction
19. OSHA
14. Panama Canal
46. Parks and Conservation
85. Peace Movements/Pacifism/Anti-Military
17. Pollution and Environmental Protection
44. Presidential Impeachment
89. Price Controls
80. Public Health
37. Public Lands
76. Public Safety
60. Public Works
83. Radio/Television/Motion Pictures/Telecommunications
62. Ratio of Representatives to Population
40. Religion
31. SST
33. School Prayer
71. Science and Technology
35. Selective Service (The Draft)
24. Shipping/Maritime
52. Slavery
86. Social Security
6. South Africa/Rhodesia
94. Space Exploration/NASA
64. States Rights vs. Federal Government
65. Supreme Court
30. Taiwan (1979-80)
50. Tariffs
3. Tax rates
69. Temperance and Liquor
58. Treaties
13. U. N.
70. U.S. Currency
8. Unemployment/Jobs
10. Union Regulation/Davis-Bacon/Situs Picketing
36. Vietnam War
61. Voting Rights
79. WWI
18. Welfare
57. Whiskey Rebellion
5. Women's Equality
72. Workplace conditions/8 hour day
Appendix B - Clausen Codes
1. Government Management
2. Social Welfare
3. Agriculture
4. Civil Liberties
5. Foreign and Defense Policy
6. Miscellaneous Policy
Appendix C - Peltzman Codes
1. Budget General Interest
2. Budget Special Interest
3. Regulation General Interest
4. Regulation Special Interest
5. Domestic Social Policy
61. Defense Policy Budget
71. Defense Policy Resolutions
62. Foreign Policy Budget
72. Foreign Policy Resolutions
8. Government Organization
9. Internal Organization
10. Indian Affairs
11. D. C.
Appendix D - Party Codes
1. Federalist
9. Jefferson Republican
10. Anti-Federalist
11. Jefferson Democrat
13. Democrat-Republican
22. Adams Democrat
25. National Republican
26. Anti Masonic
29. Whig
34. Whig and Democrat
37. Constitutional Unionist
40. Anti-Democrat and States Rights
41. Anti-Jackson Democrat
43. Calhoun Nullifier
44. Nullifier
46. States Rights Democrat
48. States Rights Whig
100. Democrat
101. Jackson Democrat
103. Democrat and Anti-Mason
104. Van Buren Democrat
105. Conservative Democrat
108. Anti-Lecompton Democrat
110. Popular Sovereignty Democrat
112. Conservative
114. Readjuster
117. Protection Tariff Democrat
118. Tariff for Revenue Democrat
119. United Democrat
200. Republican
202. Union Conservative
203. Unconditional Unionist
206. Unionist
208. Liberal Republican
212. United Republican
213. Progressive Republican
214. Non-Partisan and Republican
215. War Democrat
300. Free Soil
301. Free Soil Democrat
302. Free Soil Whig
304. Anti-Slavery
308. Free Soil American and Democrat
310. American
326. National Greenbacker
328. Independent
329. Ind. Democrat
331. Ind. Republican
333. Ind. Republican-Democrat
336. Anti-Monopolist
337. Anti-Monopoly Democrat
340. Populist
341. People's
347. Prohibitionist
353. Ind. Silver Republican
354. Silver Republican
355. Union Laborite
356. Union Labor
370. Progressive
380. Socialist
401. Fusionist
402. Liberal
403. Law and Order
522. American Labor
537. Farmer-Labor
555. Jackson
603. Ind. Whig
1060. Silver
1061. Emancipationist
1111. Liberty
1116. Conservative Republican
1275. Anti-Jackson
1346. Jackson Republican
3333. Opposition
4000. Anti-Administration
4444. Unionist
5000. Pro-Administration
6000. Crawford Federalist
6666. Crawford Republican
7000. Jackson Federalist
7777. Crawford Republican
8000. Adams-Clay Federalist
8888. Adams-Clay Republican
9000. Unknown
9999. Unknown