AUTHOR=Toro-Maureira Sergio , Reutter Juan , Valenzuela Lucas , Alcatruz Daniel , Valenzuela Macarena 

TITLE=B-Call: integrating ideological position and voting cohesion in legislative behavior

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Political Science

VOLUME=Volume 7 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/political-science/articles/10.3389/fpos.2025.1670089

DOI=10.3389/fpos.2025.1670089

ISSN=2673-3145

ABSTRACT=This paper addresses two central dimensions of legislative behavior: ideological position and voting cohesion. Although both approaches have been widely used to analyze legislative behavior, no unified model currently integrates these dimensions. To fill this gap, the paper proposes a methodology called B-Call, which combines both dimensions by treating votes as random variables. The model is empirically validated using roll-call data from the legislatures of the United States, Brazil, and Chile. The analysis seeks to capture the complexities of voting behavior, resulting in a two-dimensional indicator. This study addresses key gaps in existing legislative voting models, particularly in contexts with limited party control.