Legislative Politics Final 02/25

Collective Action Problem

When individual interests conflict with group goals (e.g., pollution, mask-wearing).

Coordination Problem

Difficulty aligning behavior to achieve collective success (e.g., driving on same side of the road).

Log-rolling

Exchanging votes/favors on legislation to gain mutual benefits, especially effective in small groups.

Committees

Solve collective action and coordination problems in large legislatures.

Division of Labor

Enables specialization and policy expertise within committees.

Power in Committees

Often concentrated in the chairperson (appointed or by seniority).

Standing Committees

Permanent, handle bills in specific areas (e.g., Agriculture, Defense).

Select/Special Committees

Temporary, investigate specific issues (e.g., Jan. 6 Attack).

Joint Committees

Include both House and Senate members; mostly administrative.

Conference Committees

Reconcile House and Senate versions of the same bill.

Committee of the Whole

Entire House meets as a committee for faster debate.

Ways and Means Committee

Handles tax legislation, trade, Social Security, Medicare; all tax bills must originate here.

Appropriations Committee

Allocates federal funding; conducts spending oversight; divides budget across 12 subcommittees.

Seniority Rule

Traditionally, the longest-serving majority member becomes chair.

Reforms (1995)

Added chair term limits and reduced staff.

Johnson Rule

No senator gets a second prime committee until all party members have one.

Positive Authority

Introduce and promote legislation.

Negative (Gatekeeping) Authority

Block legislation from advancing.

Legislative Process

Bill introduced, referred to relevant committee, assigned to subcommittee, hearings and markup, committee vote, reported to the floor for debate and vote.

Gains-from-Trade Model

Committees help members trade policy benefits across constituencies.

Informational Model

Committees reduce policy uncertainty by using expertise.

Party Model

Committees act as party tools to enforce discipline and loyalty.

Principal-Agent Problem

Agencies might act contrary to congressional intent due to delegation risks.

Oversight Types

Police Patrol: Active, routine monitoring; Fire Alarm: Reactive system relying on complaints and whistleblowers (more common).

McCubbins and Schwartz (1984): Congressional Oversight Overlooked... Police Patrols vs. Fire Alarms

Different ways to interpret oversight

Police Patrol

-Centralized, active, and direct

-Congress examines sample of executive agencies activities, trying to detect and remedy violations of legislative goals... and discouraging such violations

Fire Alarm

-Less centralized, involves less active and direct intervention

-Congress establishes system of rules, procedure, and informal practices

McCubbin and Schwartz (1984) would say:

-Congressmen favor oversight, so they will prefer FA to PP

-Congress will adopt an extensive policy of FA while largely neglecting PP

Dodd-Frank Act (2010)

Oversight becomes important

_____ expanded the role of the federal government, creating a number of new agencies

FDR

Clean Water Act

Example of indirect delegation to EPA—led to contested definitions of 'waters of the United States.'

House Appropriations Committee Characteristics

Clear Goals, Subject Matter Expertise, Legislative Orientation, Attractiveness, Stability.

Subcommittee Norms

Specialization, Reciprocity, Unity.

Fenno (1962) Roles on Committee

-Subgroup integration

-Subcommittees are meant to behave within their roles, follow three main norms

Public goods legislators care about

-election/re-election

-Policy

-Power