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Weakness of Congressional Party U. S. Congress Weakness of Congressional Party • Parties matter a lot – preferences of representatives • Undisciplined parties – legislative strategies – ties to geographic districts – majority versus minority party – no control over renomination • Committees matter a lot • Independent committee power – 95% of legislation dies here – content of legislation • House and Senate differences matter a lot Changing Strength of Parties Majority versus Minority Party • Majority party determines control of • 1880-1910 strong Speakers leadership positions – Thomas B. “Boss” Reed – Joseph G. “Czar” Cannon House Senate • 1940-1960 weak and 232 (53%) Republican 55 Republicans factionalized parties Reed • Since 1970s stronger parties 202 (49%) Democrat 44 Democrats 1 ( .2%) independent 1 independent – changing rules – more distinctive and cohesive parties 109th Congress (2005-2006) Cannon 1 Majority Party Status: U.S. House Powers of Majority Party • All committee chairs • More influence over legislative agenda • More tools for strategy • Minority party status most onerous in House Source: MicroCase, file = History, variables = 16) %DEM HOUSE, 70) %REP HOUSE, 68) HSE-OTH Party Leadership in the House Constitutional Leadership of the Senate Roles: Vice President Scheduling & Rules Dick Cheney Speaker of Party Spokesperson the House Breaks tied votes J. Dennis Strategy Haskert (R. IL) http://speaker.house.gov/ President pro tempore Ted Stevens (Alaska) Most senior member of majority Party – 36 years Majority Leader Minority Leader Rarely oversees Senate floor John Boehner (R. OH) Nancy Pelosi (D. CA) http://www.majorityleader.gov/ http://democraticleader.house.gov/ 2 Actual Leadership of Senate Other Party Leadership Posts • Whips • Chair of party caucus • Chair of policy and strategy committees • Chair of congressional campaign committees Majority Leader Minority Leader Bill Frist (R. TN) Harry Reid (D. NV) http://republican.senate.gov/ http://democrat.senate.gov/index3.html Power of Leadership Party Caucus • Persuasion & coalition building • Elect party leadership • Elected leader • Confirm selection of members to • Willingness of members to follow standing committees • More information • Too large for most policy and strategy • House - control of Rules Committee 3 Committees in Congress Types of Committees • Standing committees • Formulate legislation – permanent • Kill 95% of all proposed legislation – legislative writing • Such strong committee role is rare – subcommittees • Select or Special Committees • Joint Committees • Conference Committees House Senate Agriculture Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Appropriations Appropriations Committee Assignment & Armed Services Armed Services Budget Budget Leadership Education & the Workforce Health, Education, Labor, & Pension Energy & Commerce Commerce, Science & Transportation 109th • Members appointed by party Energy & Natural Resources Congress Financial Services Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs • Members ask for committees to Government Reform Homeland Security Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Standing – help reelection House Administration Committees International Relations Foreign Relations – write good policy Judiciary Judiciary Resources Environment & Public Works – power in Washington Rules Rules & Administration • Chairs selected by modified seniority Science Small Business Small Business & Entrepreneurship system Standards of Official Conduct Transportation & Infrastructure Veterans' Affairs Veterans Affairs Ways & Means Finance Indian Affairs 4 Committee Assignments of Arizona Senators Committee Assignments of Arizona Representatives Jim Kolbe, 8th District Jon Kyl Republican John McCain Raul Grijalva, 7th District Committee on Finance Committee on Appropriations Democrat Committee on Commerce, Science Subcommittee on & Transportation Taxation & IRS Subcommittee chair: Committee on Education and Workforce Committee on Armed Services Oversight (chair) Foreign Operations, Export Committee on Indian Affairs (chair) Committee on Judiciary Financing & Related Programs Committee on Resources Senate Legislative Process From Senate Floor Standing Senate Committee • Incremental legislation Floor • Coalition building • Easier to kill legislation Subcommittee Reconciliation • Multistage process Informal or President House Conference – Committees committees – Floor action Standing – Reconciliation of House & Senate versions Committee House Floor – Presidential decision Rules Comm. Subcommittee From House Floor 5 House and Senate How Legislators Vote Differences House Senate • Too many to be fully informed Subcommittees Full committee • Cue taking • Contact from party, constituents, Controlled Uncontrolled lobbyists, administration, legislative staff Debate Debate • 2/3rds party line votes Filibuster Cloture Limited Nongermane amendments amendments Example of Party Line Vote: Party Line Votes Bill to Increase Minimum Wage, 106th Congress 70 Vote Democrat Republican Total 60 50 Increase 97% 37% 66% 40 House 30 Senate No change 3% 63% 34% 20 10 Number 207 216 423 0 1957 1962 1967 1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 Note: Points represent 5-year averages 6 Increase in Party-Line Voting Why Parties in All Democratic Legislatures? • More cohesive parties • Demise of the “conservative coalition” • Stable majority for legislation – reduces time for coalition building – decreases likelihood of cycling majorities Uniqueness of U.S. Legislative Odds and Ends Parties • Congressional pay - $158,100 • Weaker than in European parliaments • websites: – http://www.house.gov • Most legislation needs some bipartisan – http://www.senate.gov support – http://thomas.loc.gov/ • Autonomous committees write – http://www.azleg.state.az.us legislation • Best coverage – Congressional Quarterly Weekly Reports • Parties slightly less important in Senate –C-SPAN than in House 7.
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