Advancing Our Understanding of State Legislative Effectiveness

Thursday, February 27th, 2025

On Friday, February 21st, the Center for Effective Lawmaking hosted the Effective Lawmaking in American State Legislatures conference at Vanderbilt University, bringing together faculty and doctoral students from across the country to explore the complexities of policymaking at the state level. With attendees presenting and discussing their latest findings, the event served as an important platform for advancing our understanding of what drives legislative success in state governments.

Reflecting on the broader mission of the Center for Effective Lawmaking, Co-Director Alan Wiseman, also a Professor of Political Science at Vanderbilt University, emphasized the importance of this work during his introductory comments, stating:

“We envision a scenario in which American legislatures are comprised of effective lawmakers to address America’s greatest challenges.”

Exploring Key Questions in State Lawmaking

The research presented covered a diverse range of topics that are critical to understanding how state legislatures function and evolve over time and what contributes to and detracts from the ability of individual legislators to advance their policy agendas through the lawmaking process. Some of the thought-provoking questions explored included:

• • How do lobbyists influence legislative agendas? Understanding the role of interest groups is key to assessing how policy priorities are shaped and who holds influence in the legislative process.

• • What happens when more women are elected to state legislatures? Examining how both men and women respond to increased female representation can shed light on the gendered dynamics of lawmaking.

• • Does geography impact legislation? Location matters in policymaking—whether due to regional political culture, economic factors, or the practicalities of governing across diverse districts.

• • How does majority security shape legislative success? The stability of a legislative majority can have significant implications for how laws are crafted and passed.

Each of these topics contributes to a broader understanding of legislative effectiveness and the forces that shape state-level governance.

A Conversation on Effective Lawmaking

Following the day’s research presentations, conference attendees gathered for dinner and participated in a thought-provoking discussion featuring Professor Alan Wiseman and the Honorable Bill Purcell, former Mayor of Nashville (1999-2007) and former member of the Tennessee State House of Representatives (1987-1997), where he had served as Majority leader.

Mr. Purcell shared his insights on what contributes to effective lawmaking in state legislatures, drawing from his extensive experience in both legislative and executive roles. He reflected on how the political and legislative environment in Tennessee and other states has evolved over the past two decades, offering key takeaways on leadership, institutional design, and political dynamics that shape state governance.

The discussion also allowed attendees to engage directly with Mr. Purcell, leading to a rich exchange of ideas about how research findings align with real-world policymaking. Conversations like these help to bridge the gap between academic research and practical governance, ensuring that insights on legislative effectiveness remain relevant and actionable.

Why State Legislative Research Matters

While Congress often dominates the political conversation, state legislatures play a central role in shaping policies that impact millions of Americans. From healthcare and education, to economic development and criminal justice, many of the most consequential policy decisions happen at the state level.

However, state legislatures remain understudied compared to their federal counterpart. Conferences like this help bridge that gap by fostering collaboration among scholars, generating new research, and refining our collective understanding of what contributes to effective lawmaking.

Looking Ahead

The Effective Lawmaking in American State Legislatures conference highlighted the growing interest in state legislative research and the importance of evidence-based insights in improving governance. Moving forward, the Center for Effective Lawmaking will continue to support this work by facilitating discussions, sharing research findings, and engaging with policymakers who can put these insights into action.

A big thank you to all who participated, presented, and contributed to the success of this event! We look forward to seeing how these research efforts continue to shape the study and practice of effective lawmaking in state legislatures.

Thank you to the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation for the financial support needed to make this conference possible.