Putting Policy First

The vast potential of Twitter means that it can be used as a tool for policy information. This chapters shows that a majority of senators adopt a policy-wonk style for their rhetorical agenda. While institutions and constituent expectations constrain the issues senators may act on, what they communicate in their rhetorical agenda is an opportunity to gain agency over their policy messaging. Senators with policy-focused constituencies, particularly committee leaders and Democrats with policy coalitions, act as legislative entrepreneurs by taking advantage of Twitter’s expansive network to link their legislative activity and policy-focused rhetorical agenda with a diverse constituency of followers networked by shared attention to issue priorities. Additionally, this chapter introduces the concept of a dual process of policy prioritization where lawmakers not only have to decide to become a policy wonk but also make a second decision about which policies define their time in office.