Quiz What is one reason that Congress created standing committees in the first place? What is one...
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Transcript of Quiz What is one reason that Congress created standing committees in the first place? What is one...
Quiz
• What is one reason that Congress created standing committees in the first place?
• What is one thing that Reed’s Rules did?
Parties in Congress
Historical development of leadership in Congress
• Ad hoc committees and floor debate
• Reed’s rules
Reed’s Rules
• 1. Speaker can choose not to entertain motions that just intend to delay action
• 2. Speaker can establish there is a quorum even if members refuse to vote
Historical development of leadership in Congress
• Ad hoc committees and floor debate• Reed’s rules• Creation of Rules Committee in House• Fall of Czar Cannon• Subcommittee Bill of Rights & 1970s
reforms• Republican revolution
Conditional Party Government
• The strength of party in Congress varies with the degree to which the majority party is ideologically unified and opposed to the views of the minority party.
• Members of a party are more willing to accept strong leadership if they are more agreed on their collective agenda.
How has party unity in Congress changed over time?
• Why is it difficult to have ideologically unified parties in the US?
• Changes in Ideology over time
How are parties organized in Congress?
• Caucus/Conference = all members of the same party in House or Senate– Elect party leaders– Elect/confirm committee chairs– Elect whips
Effects of more ideologically unified parties?
• Stronger leadership
• Lack of civility?
Mechanisms for enforcing party unity
• Carrots?
• Sticks?
Party Unity in the House
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1954 1959 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
Party Line Votes
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998
House Senate
Issues that prompt more party unity
• Deal with interests of legislative parties
• Presidential proposals
• Issues that clearly divide voters on party lines
Is party unity in Congress a good thing?