Electoral Mandate and Voting Behavior: Evidence from Russian State Duma1

The goal of this paper is to study differences in voting behavior between single-mandate and party list deputies in the Russian Duma. We apply a latent factor model to roll call data from the 2nd and 3rd convocations (1995-2003). We find that deputies elected in different ways exhibit systematic differences in voting behavior along two dimensions which we interpret as the party line and regional interests. A simulation study shows that the type of a mandate very well explains observed intrafaction cleavages. The two remarkable exceptions include ‘Unity ’ and OVR, suggesting that regional interests were not well represented by these factions ’ deputies. We conclude by discussing the likely effect of recent changes in electoral legislation proposed by president Putin on the representation of regional interests in the Duma