Page "Logrolling" Paragraph 3

Quid pro quo, sums up the concept of logrolling in the United States ’ political process today.

Logrolling is the process by which politicians trade support for one issue or piece of legislation in exchange for another politician ’ s support, especially by means of legislative votes ( Holcombe 2006 ).

If a legislator logrolls, he initiates the trade of votes for one particular act or bill in order to secure votes on behalf of another act or bill.

Logrolling means that two parties will pledge their mutual support, so both bills can secure a simple majority.

For example, when a vote on behalf of a tariff is traded by a congressman for a vote from another congressman on behalf of an agricultural subsidy to ensure that both acts will gain a majority and pass through the legislature, logrolling occurs ( Shughart 2008 ).

Logrolling will not occur during presidential elections, where a vast voting population necessitates that individual votes have little political power, or during secret ballot votes ( Buchanan and Tullock 1962 ).

Because logrolling is pervasive in the political process, it is important to understand which external situations determine when, why, and how logrolling will occur, and whether it is beneficial, efficient, or neither.