Representation in State Legislatures: A Focus on Missouri

Abstract

In Summer 2003, the Institute of Public Policy conducted a mail survey of state legislators in Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, New Jersey, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and South Dakota. We found that the number of requests for casework a legislative office receives in an average week during session varied greatly by state. Pennsylvania reported 107 cases on average, which was more than four times that of any other state (North Dakota, 24; South Carolina, 17; Arizona, 16; Missouri, 15; New Jersey, 12; South Dakota, 8; and Colorado, 7).