Checks, Balances, and Presidential Ambitions

This study investigates the relationship between running for president and members’ contributions to the core legislative functions that impact Congress’s standing relative to the presidency. This study finds some evidence that ambitious legislators attend roll call votes and oversight hearings at lower rates, but at the same time, they are more legislatively productive, conduct just as much informal oversight and are equally informational in their public oversight. When Congress votes on an issue that affects the balance of power between Congress and the president, they are more likely to side with Congress than legislators without presidential ambitions are. These behavioral differences persist even after their presidential runs, which suggests they are not driven by a strategic effort to audition for the presidency.