Women in Public Office

These data were collected in 1977 to gather information about the numbers, location, positions, personal characteristics, and political backgrounds of women in public office at federal, state, county, and local levels. A nine-page self-administered questionnaire was mailed to approximately 13,000 women currently in public office, 2,400 men currently in public office, and 660 women who were in public office in 1975 but not in 1977. Questionnaires were returned by 3,319 women office holders, 363 men office holders, and 190 women former office holders.

The first section of the questionnaire contained information for listing the respondent in a biographical directory of office holders, including current and former offices, party involvement, employment, education, and organizational membership. The second section examined activities while in office, political plans and goals, attitudes toward men and women in politics, and background and family characteristics.

The Murray Center has acquired all computer-accessible data for the three samples.