We present a process model of decision making mediated by goals and relationships. The model is implemented in the V O T E computer program which simulates Congressional roll call voting. In this paper, we focus on VOTE's decision strategies, which are based on the need not only to arrive at a vote, but also to produce an explanation for each decision. W e describe severed typical strategies, as well as an indirect strategy, Deeper Analysis, that is invoked when the normal strategies fail to arrive at a decision.

Interpersonal relationships are a pervasive dimension of human behavior and decision making. Actors make choices based both on personal goals, and on goals derived from interpersonal relationships. We present a goal-based model of decision making that combines the motives of the actor with agendas adopted through relationships. A unifying feature of the model is the use of importance as a means of ranking both goals and relationships. We describe a computer simulation of the model in the domain of Congressional roll-call voting.