Representation and policy outputs: Examining the linkage between passive and active representation

Is there any significant relationship between a group's representation in higher-level positions and policy outputs favorable to that group? This paper explores the linkage between passive and active representation by examining the impacts of female, African-American and Hispanic employment in the Senior Executive Service (SES) on the policy outputs measured by the line-item budgets allocated to help women and minorities in the presidential request budget for the period of 1979-1999. Findings indicate that female and minority representation in senior executive positions is slightly linked to the policy outputs favorable to those groups. If a president's party is not controlled, there appears to be a significant relationship between female and minority representation in the SES and funding for education and health-related programs. The Democratic party's control of the presidency is likely to support greater funding for female and minority-related programs, as the large number of past studies suggested. Further, the interaction or cooperation between the female African-American and Hispanic senior executives plays a significant role in achieving policy outputs favorable to those groups.