01540nas a2200145   4500008004100000020001400041245009600055210006900151260002800220490000700248520097800255100001901233700001701252856012501269       2005                        eng d  a0094-695800aCommunicating to the courts and beyond: Why members of Congress participate as amici curiae0 aCommunicating to the courts and beyond Why members of Congress p  bSage Publicationsc20050 v323 a<p>Members of Congress engage in discretionary behaviors, such as making speeches and cosponsoring bills, which are generally motivated by either electoral needs or policy preferences. We examine a discretionary behavior that engages the judicial branch in the conversation: the participation of members of Congress as amici curiae before the Supreme Court. Amicus curiae briefs provide members of Congress with a direct avenue of communication with the judiciary, and this characteristic suggests that cosigning would be a method of creating good public policy. Using data from the 1980-1997 terms of the Supreme Court, however, we find that members of Congress cosign onto amicus curiae briefs as a means of "taking stances," akin to cosponsoring a bill. The action allows the member to speak indirectly to an audience beyond these governmental institutions. Evidence shows that ideological extremism and committee jurisdiction promote participation as amicus curiae.</p>1 aSolberg, Rorie1 aHeberlig, E.  uhttps://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/biblio/communicating-courts-and-beyond-why-members-congress-participate-amici-curiae