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[Written by Owen Irwin.]
* The Sunlight Foundation just released its new analysis detailing the grade level at which members of Congress speak.
The report uses the Flesch-Kincaid test to conduct the analysis, which awards a higher-grade level for using longer words and more complex sentences. The foundation’s results reveal that the vocabulary and spoken sentence structure of Congressmen has slowly been declining over the course of the nation’s history…
Today’s Congress speaks at about a 10.6 grade level, down from a high of 11.5 in 2005. By comparison, the U.S. Constitution is written at a 17.8 grade level, the Federalist Papers at a 17.1 grade level and the Declaration of Independence at a 15.1 grade level.
* So how do our Congressmen rank? The average Illinoisan member of Congress speaks at an 11.34 grade level- almost a grade above the Congressional average. Here’s a descending list (highest speaking grade level to lowest) of where the analysis had Illinois’ delegation…
Rep. Danny Davis (D) 13.81
Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D) 13.49
Sen. Mark Kirk (R) 12.9
Rep. Tim Johnson (R) 12.43
Rep. Jerry Costello (D) 12.38
Rep. Jesse Jackson (D) 11.95
Rep. Mike Quigley (D) 11.79
Rep. Bobby Rush (D) 11.74
Rep. Bobby Schilling (R) 11.72
Rep. Luis Guitierrez (D) 11.63
Rep. Aarron Schock (R) 11.53
Rep. Randy Hultgren (R) 11.44
Rep. Peter Roskam (R) 11.35
Rep. Judy Biggert (R) 11.31
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D) 11.23
Rep. Robert Dold (R) 10.43
Sen. Dick Durbin (D) 9.87
Rep. John Shimkus (R) 9.67
Rep. Don Manzullo (R) 9.61
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R) 8.99
Rep. Joe Walsh (R) 8.9
* Some other findings…
Controlling for other factors, it is generally the most moderate members of both parties who speak at the highest grade levels, and the most extreme members who speak at the lowest grade levels. This pattern is most pronounced among freshmen and sophomore members.
Prior to 2005, Republicans on average spoke at a slightly higher grade level than Democrats. Since then, Democrats have spoken on average at a slightly higher grade level than Republicans.
Some of the decline in grade level since 2005 is because junior members speak at a lower grade level than senior members, and some of it is because senior members have simplified their speech patterns over time.
On average, the more words individual members speak on the floors of Congress, the simpler their speech tends to be.
* You can find their full analysis here as well as a link to their complete database.
Thoughts on the rankings?
posted by Owen Irwin
Monday, May 21, 12 @ 12:43 pm
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Not surprising, Joe Walsh sits at the bottom of the list. I guess he figures yelling at constituents makes up the difference.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, May 21, 12 @ 12:48 pm
“Broadly speaking, the short words are the best, and the old words best of all.”
Winston Churchill
“We’re not one-at-a-timin’ here, we’re mass communicating!”
‘Pass-the-Biscuits’ Pappy O’Daniel.
Generally, I think marketing and journalism worlds recommend you keep it an eighth-grade level to reach the masses.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 21, 12 @ 1:00 pm
Like “media bias”, Congresscritters are just reflecting the leanings of their intended audience.
Base voters on either side prefer simple idiom.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, May 21, 12 @ 1:03 pm
The rankings are merely descriptive statistics in the full model, they do not explain much. The full analysis is interesting, but it looks like a starting point for a full analysis. Turning to the full model, the statistics are pretty weak, with adjusted R-squares hovering between 15% and 10%, meaning that the model accounts for 10-15% of the variance in member’s speaking level. Ideally, this number needs to get up to 30-40% before being absolutely worthwhile.
Comment by NIref Monday, May 21, 12 @ 1:20 pm
As others have referenced above, perhaps not an indication of intelligence, more than a speaking style. For instance, Rand Paul is listed as one of the lowest ranked, but he has an M.D. from Duke University and scored in the 90th percentile on his MCAT’s. Lucille Roybal-Allard is listed as 2nd on the list and she has no more than a Bachelor’s from Cal State Los Angeles, but her career was in public relations for fundraising firms, so she spent a lot of time talking to the “money people” all the time.
That said, it is a shame that political discourse has come to “dumbing things down” to a 30-second soundbite instead of being able to speak in detail about the subject matter.
Comment by Ghost of John Brown Monday, May 21, 12 @ 1:23 pm
big words and complex sentence structure more valuable for government….silly. often, it’s just about blurring the facts or a pol blathering on in self congratulation. the formal efforts to simplify language in the federal government and in some court jurisdictions are truly necessary, especially when you consider that things have to be translated into multiple languages now and there can be no room for misunderstanding.
Comment by amalia Monday, May 21, 12 @ 1:26 pm
I don’t put too much stock in this. I’d prefer government officials to be somewhere in the happy middle… able to speak well enough to convey what they are working on and their positions, but neither resorting to base, lowbrow speech nor talking over their constituents in a professorial manner. There could also be a rural vs. urban component here as legislators from more rural areas are or try to be more “folksy.”
I was taught in law school to speak to a jury as if they had an average of a fifth grade education to make sure your points are understood. Perhaps some of our representatives are taking similar advice when they speak.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, May 21, 12 @ 1:35 pm
1. this will lead on msnbc.
2. the walsh thing is hilarious, as is the fact that the former mtv star turned congressman is also at that level-kurt loder would be rated higher if he was elected.
3. I am not happy with the sunlight foundation. “Is congress getting dumber” is catchy but it’s also a stupid potshot. These are public servants who make sacrifices and if you’re going to be a serious organization you can use more class in coming up with a title.
Comment by Shore Monday, May 21, 12 @ 1:42 pm
This is ridiculous. Danny Davis more articulate than Mark Kirk? Jesse Jackson than Dick Durbin? Luis Guittierez than Peter Roskam? And Walsh at the bottom? Not borne out by the evidence. List appears to be in reverse order.
Comment by Conservative Republican Monday, May 21, 12 @ 1:54 pm
Conservative Republican - be careful - your roots might be showing.
Comment by collar observer Monday, May 21, 12 @ 2:20 pm
I wouldn’t give any credence to the study other than general interest. As others pointed out, it is often recommended that you communicate to the level of your audience. There are some old quotes about true genius is the ability to make the complex simple; but any old fool can make the simple seem complex. A writing guide I read once admonished that one should review what they wrote to make it as simple as possible and then simplify it more.
Comment by Logic not emotion Monday, May 21, 12 @ 3:18 pm
Does this mean Joe Walsh is easiest to understand?
Comment by Cal Skinner Monday, May 21, 12 @ 3:20 pm
I find it very interesting (and I’ll admit a little surprising) that there are so many “(D)”s near the top of the list and so many “(R)”s near the bottom.
Comment by TCB Monday, May 21, 12 @ 3:32 pm
US Constitution 17.8 Level
today constantly attacked by “10th grade scholars”
No wonder disaster looms
Comment by x ace Monday, May 21, 12 @ 3:38 pm
Simplistic, mythical solutions are easier to communicate than real, fact-based solutions. Some targeted audiences tend to prefer them.
Comment by mark walker Monday, May 21, 12 @ 3:44 pm
Constitution is 17.8 and the Federalist Papers are 17.1. No wonder politicians are always misquoting or misinterpreting our “founding fathers” - they aren’t schooled enough to actually read them. Oh wait…I’m probably just being elitist. Ha!
Comment by Left Leaner Monday, May 21, 12 @ 3:48 pm
**By comparison, the U.S. Constitution is written at a 17.8 grade level, the Federalist Papers at a 17.1 grade level and the Declaration of Independence at a 15.1 grade level.**
There is a pretty big difference between how people talk and how people write.
Comment by dave Monday, May 21, 12 @ 3:56 pm
== Does this mean Joe Walsh is easiest to understand? ==
Yes. Also, to make clean out the garage if he wants to go to the mall this weekend.
Comment by Cheswick Monday, May 21, 12 @ 5:35 pm
Bobby Rush 11.74? I stopped reading right after I saw that….
Comment by Holdingontomywallet Monday, May 21, 12 @ 7:47 pm