본 연구는 미국정치에 있어 중요한 화두로 언급되고 있는 양극화 현상이 주들간에도 일어나고 있는지 알아보기 위해 주 유권자들의 평균 선호도와 주 하원의원들의 평균 선호도를 측정하여 분포도를 살펴보았다. 50개 주들의 유권자들의 평균분포를 중심으로 보았을 때 주들간에 차이는 있지만 1980년과 1990년 50개 주 선호도 분포는 1960년과 1970년과 비교하여 중간 위치를 차지하고 있는 주들이 소수고 평균값을 중심으로 쌍봉형의 모습을 취하고 있음을 알 수 있다. 이러한 경향은 2000년에도 발견되고 있다. 하지만 양극화 현상이 일어났다고 결론 내리기는 힘들다. 특히 2004년의 선호도 분포는 전혀 새로운 모습을 보여주고 있기에 더욱 그렇다. 이러한 결과들을 통해 주들간 선호도 양극화 현상은 발견되고 있지 않다고 결론 내릴 수 있다. 하원의원들의 평균을 주별로 구분하여 보았을 때 양극화 현상은 찾을 수 없다. 102대 의회까지 주 대표의원들의 평균 선호도 분포를 보면 중간에 위치한 주들이 많으며 진보와 보수로 갈수록 주들의 수는 줄어들고 있다. 하지만 105대와 108대 의원들의 분포를 주별로 나누어 보면 양극화 현상은 발견되지 않지만 진행되려고 하는 조금의 모습이 관측된다. 이는 주 대표자들간에 양극화가 발생하고 있는지 지속적으로 지켜볼 필요성이 있다는 것이다. 하지만 현재의 상황은 의회의 두 정당의 차이하고는 확연하게 다르다. 종합하여 보면 미국정치의 양극화는 의회 내에서 발견되는 현상이지 주들간에 나타나는 현상이 아니라는 점이다. 하지만 의회내에서 정당간 양극화가 더욱 더 깊숙이 진행된다면 주들간 양극화는 어떤 식으로 발견될 수 있다. 이에 의회 그리고 주에 대한 지속적인 관찰이 요구된다.

The study aims to examine whether political preferences of the 50 States have been polarized as the U.S. Congress has been experiencing. In doing so, this paper analyzes political preferences of the electorate and U.S Representatives in the 50 States. Regarding the mean distribution of political preference of the electorate in the 50 States, the research finds that the distributions of the 50 States in 1980 and 1990 are bimodal, compared with those of 1960 and 1970. It shows that only a few States are located at the center during the same period. The same pattern occurs in 2000, however, it is hard to make a conclusion that the polarization of political preference has been occurred. Special attention should be given to the fact that the distribution of political preference in 2004 shows a very different shape, that is, unimodal. It leads to the conclusion that we can't find polarization of political preference from the electorate in the 50 States. Likewise, the study can't find polarization when it examines the mean distributions of political preference of U.S Representatives in the 50 States. The distribution of political preference of the 102 Congress shows that the most of States are located at the center, and only a few of them are on the side of conservative or liberal. Examining the distributions of the 105 Congress and the 108 Congress, this research finds no polarization. Nevertheless, there is a hint of polarization. Therefore, it is necessary to observe future development in terms of political preference. In sum, the research concludes that polarization is found in the U.S Congress, not in the 50 States. However, if the polarization in the U.S Congress is deepened, it might have an impact on the 50 States. Therefore, it is necessary to watch over not only the polarization of the U.S Congress but also those of the 50 States.

The study aims to examine whether political preferences of the 50 States have been polarized as the U.S. Congress has been experiencing. In doing so, this paper analyzes political preferences of the electorate and U.S Representatives in the 50 States. Regarding the mean distribution of political preference of the electorate in the 50 States, the research finds that the distributions of the 50 States in 1980 and 1990 are bimodal, compared with those of 1960 and 1970. It shows that only a few States are located at the center during the same period. The same pattern occurs in 2000, however, it is hard to make a conclusion that the polarization of political preference has been occurred. Special attention should be given to the fact that the distribution of political preference in 2004 shows a very different shape, that is, unimodal. It leads to the conclusion that we can't find polarization of political preference from the electorate in the 50 States. Likewise, the study can't find polarization when it examines the mean distributions of political preference of U.S Representatives in the 50 States. The distribution of political preference of the 102 Congress shows that the most of States are located at the center, and only a few of them are on the side of conservative or liberal. Examining the distributions of the 105 Congress and the 108 Congress, this research finds no polarization. Nevertheless, there is a hint of polarization. Therefore, it is necessary to observe future development in terms of political preference. In sum, the research concludes that polarization is found in the U.S Congress, not in the 50 States. However, if the polarization in the U.S Congress is deepened, it might have an impact on the 50 States. Therefore, it is necessary to watch over not only the polarization of the U.S Congress but also those of the 50 States.

polarization, the 50 States, political preference of U.S. Representative