Richard F. Fenno described which paradox about Congress?

Richard F. Fenno described which paradox about Congress?

• A. The lack of power in Congress when it comes to budget
• B. The lack of support for Congress, but the presence of strong support among the public for congressional actions
• C. The public disapproving of Congress, but on average, approving of their representatives and senators
• D. None of these choices is true

Answer: (C)

Richard Fenno’s paradox is that people often rate Congress poorly as an institution, yet they approve of their own member of Congress. This happens because voters separate their view of Congress as a whole from how their representative performs for them personally. When thinking about Congress, many voters focus on national gridlock, partisan battles, and overall effectiveness, which tends to produce negative assessments. But when evaluating their own representative, voters consider direct benefits they’ve experienced—like constituent services, casework, and the sense that their member is responsive and accessible—which can lead to relatively favorable views of that individual. That’s why the description that the public disapproves of Congress but, on average, approves of their representatives best captures the phenomenon Fenno identified. The other options don’t describe this contrast between general sentiment about the institution and personal sentiment about individual members.

Richard Fenno’s paradox is that people often rate Congress poorly as an institution, yet they approve of their own member of Congress. This happens because voters separate their view of Congress as a whole from how their representative performs for them personally. When thinking about Congress, many voters focus on national gridlock, partisan battles, and overall effectiveness, which tends to produce negative assessments. But when evaluating their own representative, voters consider direct benefits they’ve experienced—like constituent services, casework, and the sense that their member is responsive and accessible—which can lead to relatively favorable views of that individual.

That’s why the description that the public disapproves of Congress but, on average, approves of their representatives best captures the phenomenon Fenno identified. The other options don’t describe this contrast between general sentiment about the institution and personal sentiment about individual members.