ABSTRACT
The emerging picture of the state legislatures for 1993 reveals that women's forward movement continues at its long-established pace". A staff member in a Western legislature who works on women's issues noted: "Women absolutely make a policy difference. Furthermore, in many states, membership in the legislature is a part-time job. The changes in the professionalism of state legislatures that altered levels of electoral competition and decreased access for newcomers has had a substantial effect on women's representation within them. Legislative and regulatory power had become ever more concentrated at the federal level and decision-making leeway enjoyed by the states diminished over time. Another explanation for the greater success of women in state legislative races than in federal races concerns the type of district from which one is elected. Perhaps more interesting are the success rates related to priority bills dealing with the distinctive priorities of the sexes.
