Publication Date
Spring 5-2-2026
Document Type
Student Project
First Advisor
Scot Schraufnagel
Degree Name
B.S. (Bachelor of Science)
Department
Department of Political Science
Abstract
Congressional leaders play a central role in shaping legislative agendas, maintaining party cohesion, and negotiating policy outcomes. Despite the important roles they play, our nation's congressional leaders continue to grow older, and research has rarely examined how age influences their effectiveness in these roles. This study asks whether older congressional leaders are less effective at advancing legislation than their younger counterparts. Using data on leaders serving in the U.S. House and Senate from the 93rd through the 118th Congress, the analysis compares leaders’ ages with their Legislative Effectiveness Score Ratios, controlling for legal experience, state legislative experience, elite education, ideology, and chamber. The findings show a consistent negative relationship between age and legislative effectiveness, even after accounting for these other factors. Case studies of Chuck Grassley, Robert Byrd, and Strom Thurmond further illustrate how advanced age may affect leadership capacity. These findings suggest that age can shape congressional performance in important ways.
Recommended Citation
Drinkwine, Edward N. 2026. “Age and Congressional Leader Success: Are They Getting Too Old.” Capstone Paper, University Honors Program, Department of Political Science, Northern Illinois University.
Suggested Citation
Drinkwine, Edward N. 2026. “Age and Congressional Leader Success: Are They Getting Too Old.” Capstone Paper, University Honors Program, Department of Political Science, Northern Illinois University.
