Free votes and the analysis of recorded votes: evidence from Germany (1949–2021)

The literature on legislative voting either explicitly excludes free votes from its analysis, does not distinguish them other recorded votes, or analyses only topic-specific subsets of them. This research note shows all three approaches to be problematic, and argues for a reconsideration how are approached in the literature. Drawing dataset covering German Bundestag (1949–2021), analysing topics, initiators behaviour held, it is shown that frequent, address broad range issues, display substantial variation behaviour. Most importantly, there strong indication held topics which parties refrain taking position. findings have implications study parliamentary floor voting.