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?