Final answer:
The attitudinal view on Congressional behavior shows influence from public opinion, party leaders, and the primary goal of reelection, with members engaging in advertising, credit claiming, and position taking. While public mood doesn't directly affect all election outcomes due to incumbency advantages, policy shifts in Congress may align with public preferences, indicating an effort by members to increase their electoral odds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The attitudinal view regarding members of Congress suggests that their behavior is significantly influenced by various factors such as public opinion, the desires of their constituents, their party leaders, and their own personal goals, primarily re-election. This view takes into account the trade-offs that members of Congress have to navigate when making decisions on votes and policies. For instance, supporting legislation that aligns with public opinion and the needs of constituents may be critical during election times, but at other times, party allegiance or other pressures may dominate.
Studies, such as those by David Mayhew and James Stimson, have highlighted that while Congress members' primary activities—advertising, credit claiming, and position taking—are geared towards getting reelected, public mood does not always directly affect election outcomes. However, incumbency advantages such as name recognition and media coverage do. Even so, policy shifts in Congress often seem to reflect the public's policy preferences, suggesting that representatives might alter their votes to align with the public mood to bolster electoral prospects.
Furthermore, the complexity of representing a diverse group of constituents means that decisions in Congress may not always directly match public opinion, especially on intricate issues where the public has less engagement or knowledge. This results in a balancing act between adopting a delegate or trustee approach based on issue salience and ideological stances.