Senate Republicans Lead Congressional Use of Twitter, CRS Says

Senate Republicans are the most prolific users of Twitter in Congress, tweeting an average of 1.53 Tweets per day, according to a new report from the Congressional Research Service.  They were followed by Senate Democrats (1.49 Tweets on average), House Republicans (1.23), and House Democrats (1.09).

Senate Republicans were also the most frequent posters on Facebook, with an average of 0.84 posts per day.

“In 2012, 56% of Twitter-registered Members were Republican and 44% were Democrats,” reported the CRS study, which was performed with the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas in Austin.

Twitter and Facebook “allow Members to communicate directly with constituents (and others) in a potentially interactive way that is not possible through mail or e-mail. For Members and their staff, the ability to collect and transmit real time information to and from constituents could be influential for issue prioritization, policy decisions, or voting behavior,” CRS said.

However, the new study does not present any data to show that Twitter or Facebook are actually being used interactively, i.e. that Members are consistently reading or responding to incoming messages from constituents or others.  See Social Networking and Constituent Communications: Members’ Use of Twitter and Facebook During a Two-Month Period in the 112th Congress, March 22, 2013.

Some other new reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.

Argentina’s Post-Crisis Economic Reform: Challenges for U.S. Policy, March 26, 2013

Proposed Cuts to Air Traffic Control Towers Under Budget Sequestration: Background and Considerations for Congress, March 26, 2013

Administrative Agencies and Claims of Unreasonable Delay: Analysis of Court Treatment, March 21, 2013

U.S. and World Coal Production, Federal Taxes, and Incentives, March 14, 2013