Campaign Finance and Political Party Dynamics

2020 (Dialing for Dollars):

- Average State Campaign= 20$ million house= 1.8$million

- Fundraising, donor and constituent outreach occupy most of members' time ( DCCC, 2013 new member presentation)

- Members are prohibited from using congressional offices for fundraising, party call centers near the capitol

(members were prohibited from using their congressional offices for fundraising, leading parties to set up call centers near the capitol).

Dialing For Dollars

- Winning for campaigns need Voters and Donors( Stoddard's 2 Constituencies)

Party committees

(Dialing for Dollars)

- require members to raise and transfer money to the party, publicize totals internally

Federal Elections Campaign Act of 1971 (Finance Rules for Candidates)

- Established laws regulating money raised by campaigns, also spending limits:

- Limits on donations to candidates ( currently $3500 per individual)

- Campaigns must report name and employer of donors over $200, FEC publishes( conduit PACs report all donors)

- Banned campaigns from accepting donations from foreigners

Today, no laws regulating amount spent by campaigns:

Buckley v. Valeo(1976)

(Finance Rules for Candidates)

- Campaign spending is speech, candidate campaigns can spend without limits( overturned all spending limits in FECA)

- This was a landmark supreme court case that ruled campaign spending is a form of free speech protected by the first amendment.

- Courts ruled that donations from individuals should be limited to prevent corruption but candidates could spend as much of their own money as they wanted

- This overturned earlier laws that tried to limit total campaign spending, allowing wealthy candidates to fund their own campaigns without restrictions

Created in 1974 amendments to Federal Election Campaign Act

(The Federal Election Commission)

- Publishes campaigns financial info

Enforces limits/ prohibitions on contributions and spending

- Oversees presidential public finance system( obama 2008 first to reject matching funds, Now all do)

Six members, nominated by president, confirmed by senate

(The Federal Election Commission)

- No more than 3 members of same party

- At least 4 members to establish quorum, open investigations, issue rules(needed to make decisions, conduct investigations, and issue rules).

2020

(The Federal Election Commission):

- Senate Confirmed 3 new members to fill empty seats, backlog of expiring cases

- This restored its quorum and enabled it to resume full operations. Prior to this the FEC was unable to function effectively due to vacant seats, leading to significant backlog cases.

Candidate Committees

(Financial Players in Campaign)

- Receives and spends on behalf of candidate campaigns

Party Committees

(Financial Players in Campaigns)

- National, state, congressional district, and local orgs that nominate candidates, spend and transfer money to support candidates

Political Action Committees (Financial Players in Campaigns)

- Raise and distribute funds to candidate campaigns and other orgs ($5000 limits)

Outside groups (Financial Players in Campaigns):

- Corporations, individuals, SuperPACs, interest groups (501(c))

Increase in small donations (under $200)

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

(Financial Players in Campaigns)

-Limited donations to Party Committees, Prohibited outside groups from "electioneering"; activities intended to influence the outcome of an election (running political ads that support or oppose a candidate, encourage people to vote for a specific candidate or party, distributing campaign material near polling places) within 60 days of general and 30 days of primary elections, Required disclosure of ad sponsors (required disclosure of their identity) (501(c) exempt from disclosure)

- 501(c) orgs, SuperPACs face no limits on donations or spending

Citizens United v. FEC (2010) (Outside Groups):

All political spending is speech, cannot be limited, Laws cannot discriminate against speakers (struck down electioneering prohibitions in BCRA)

Unlimited money expenditure on political campaigns is allowed

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA); struck down part of this that restricted election ads close to elections, saying laws cannot favor or discriminate against certain speakers (such as corporations vs. individuals)

SuperPAC (Outside Groups):

PAC that spends independently of candidates and parties, Created following Citizens United, no limits on fundraising or spending

Created after Citizens United (2010) decision

Can accept unlimited donations from individuals, corporations, and unions

They cannot donate directly to candidates or coordinate with their campaigns

501(c) Organizations (Outside Groups):

Non-profit groups can accept unlimited donations and spend independently, No disclosure requirements (Dark Money)

Candidates prohibited from coordinating payments, content, or conduct with SuperPACs, but rules rarely enforced by FEC

Campaigns avoid rules via Redboxing, B-roll

ex:

Carly Fiorina's 2016 SuperPAC: It was called : Conservative, Authentic, Responsive Leadership for You and for America (CARLY for America)

Redboxing (Outside Groups):

- Candidate campaign instructions for outside groups posted online

Allows campaigns to post vague public messages ("voters need to know about our opponents tax plan") that signal SuperPACs on what ads to run.

B-Roll (Outside Groups):

- Campaigns release raw video footage online, allowing superPACs to use it in their ads without direct coordination.

Why do incumbents win reelection at such high rates?

Incumbent Advantage (The Incumbent Advantage) :

- Funding - Party support - Name recognition - Record and Power - Polarization and Gerrymandering

- Funding: They have easier access to campaign donations from donors, interest groups, and PACs

- Party Support: Their political party provides financial and strategic backing

- Name Recognition: Voters are more familiar with them, giving them a natural edge over challengers

- Record and Power: They can highlight past achievements and use their current position to influence policy and gain media attention

- Polarization and Gerrymandering: Strong party loyalty and strategically drawn districts make it harder for challengers to win

Realignment:

- Shifts in coalitions of voters supporting each party

- Early party systems divided (white male) voters by economics and region (geography and class)

- Recent realignments have been influenced by new issues such as social policies, race, and the size of government, which have caused voters to shift between parties.

6th Party System, 1968 - 2016:

- Size of government, race and social issues

- Democrats: Unions and Labor, Urban areas, Young voters, Non White populations

- Secular Republicans: Business interests, Suburban voters, Older voters, Southern Whites, Evangelical Christians

- Elevation of professional class slowly alienated Democrats from working class base; the highly educated within the Democratic party (professional class) focused more on issues that tended to their needs, shifting away from the needs of the working class; making the working class feel like the Democratic party no longer fitted their needs, some shifting towards the republican party; overall leading to shifts in the party's based on support.

What divides define the new 7th Party System?

- Education, Race, Religion, Gender, Urban/Rural, Culture

Blacks and Democrats: A Generation of Allegiance

- During Reconstruction, Black Republicans carried elections across the South (1867-1877)

1890 - 1965

(Black and Democrats: A Generation of Allegiance):

- Disenfranchisement of Southern Blacks

- White supremacist groups and local governments suppressed black voting rights, despite the constitutional amendments that were supposed to protect those rights.

-Disenfranchisement through poll taxes, literacy tests, grandfather clauses, whiter primary(allowed only white citizens to participate in primary elections, black voters could only access general elections), Jim crow laws, political and social pressure

(Blacks and Democrats: A Generation of Allegiance)

1965 - 2016:

- Democratic support for Civil Rights realigns parties

- Southern Whites slowly shift GOP,

- Blacks support Democrats

- Non White support for Democrats peaks during Obama presidency

(Blacks and Democrats: A Generation of Allegiance)

2024:

Trump won 16% of Black voters, 43% of Latinos, 39% of Asians

Parties emphasize race and culture, divide among multiracial working class

Cohort:

- Today, cohort replacement sees fewer young Blacks identifying as Democrats

- Link between racially homogenous communities, Black identity, and Democratic affiliation

(The roles of a Representative)

Legislator:

- Draft laws, Pass laws, Oversight

- They also play an important role in overseeing the implementation of laws and ensuring that government agencies are functioning properly. In addition to this, legislators represent the interests of their constituents.

(The roles of a representative)

Declining Norms:

- Seniority(newer members are holding more power), Issue specialization(used to have a specialized policy in area and developed expertise in them now legislators may not always have deep knowledge of their assigned issues), Shunning media(it used to be avoided to focus on legislative process but its now used to increase visibility or gain attention, Compromise (their is less willingness to compromise between parties and individuals resulting in gridlock and stalemate), Decorum (decrease due to partisanship and polarization).

(The roles of a representative)

Partisan:

- Party caucuses (specific political party or movement)organize collective messages and policy, Party committees(official organizations affiliated with political parties) support members in elections, Party brands

(The roles of a representative)

Caucuses facilitate Logrolling:

"If you vote for my bill, I'll vote for yours"

Increased power for party leaders, decreased power for individual members (less independence in decision making)

(The roles of a representative)

Constituency Servant:

- Represent local concerns, Bring home federal funds (pork barrel projects), Help constituents with federal issues

- Members who garner more "pork" have greater name recognition, face fewer challengers, more likely to win close reelection races

- A constituency servant is a legislator who focuses on addressing the needs of their district. Their responsibilities include:

- Representing local concerns by advocating for policies that benefit their community.

- Securing federal funds for projects in their district, often referred to as pork barrel projects (such as funding for roads, schools, or local businesses).

- Helping constituents with federal issues, like Social Security benefits, veterans' services, or immigration matters.

- Lawmakers who successfully bring more federal money to their districts tend to have higher name recognition, face fewer challengers, and are more likely to win tight reelection races. This is because voters appreciate direct benefits to their communities, making them more likely to support incumbents.

(The roles of a representative)

Casework:

- Constituents express views, Look for government jobs, Request help with federal issues

- Casework refers to the assistance that legislators provide to their constituents when dealing with the federal government. This includes:

- Listening to constituents' concerns and advocating for their views in government.

- Helping individuals find government jobs by providing information or recommendations.

- Assisting with federal issues, such as Social Security benefits, veterans' affairs, immigration paperwork, or tax disputes.

- Casework strengthens a legislator's connection with their district, making them more popular and increasing their chances of reelection.

Staffing the Offices

- Legislators maintain offices in state/district and Capitol, Member staff manage legislative and constituent duties

(Staffing the Offices)

Members receive accounts:

- House ($1.3 - $1.6 million), Senate (varies by state size and distance from Washington D.C) to pay for staff, offices, travel, equipment, etc. \

- Members of congress receive funding to cover the cost of running their offices and serving their constituents

- The money is used for Hiring Staff, Maintaining offices in Washington D.C, and their home states/ districts, traveling between their districts/ states, Buying office equipment and covering other work related expenses

- House staffs up to 18 full-time, 4 part-time interns

- Senate staffs from 13 to 71 full-time, interns

(Staffing the Offices)

Capitol staff:

- Chief of staff, Legislative assistants, press aides

- Members of Congress have Capital staff to help them manage their work, including:

- Chief of Staff: The top advisor who oversees all operations, manages staff, and advises the legislator on key decisions.

- Legislative Assistants: Experts on policy issues who research legislation, draft bills, and brief the legislator on upcoming votes.

- Press Aides: Handle media relations, write speeches, manage social media, and communicate the legislator's message to the public.

(Staffing the Offices)

Field (state/district) office staff:

- Casework, local communication

- Staff use mail (Franking privilege), social media, press, events to promote Members

- Member offices, staff, resources only used for official business (not campaign, personal), Campaign expenses paid separately, Staff move to campaign payrolls during reelection

( What Does A Representative Do?)

Delegates:

- Elected representatives act based on their constituents' expressed preferences

- Direct voice for the people they represent

(What Does A Representative Do?)

Trustees (Burkean):

- Elected representatives act as they believe is right, regardless of constituent preferences

- Use their own judgement to make decisions, even if they go against the constituents preferences

(What Does A Representative Do?)

Edmund Burke:

- "Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion"

- "What sort of reason is that, in which the determination precedes the discussion"

- "Parliament is a deliberative assembly of one nation, with one interest, that of the whole"

- The belief that representatives should use their own judgement rather than simply follow public opinion.

- Representatives owe their constituents not just hard work, but also their independent judgment. Simply obeying public opinion, rather than making well-reasoned decisions, is a betrayal of their duty.

- Decisions should be made after careful discussion and reasoning, not before.

- Parliament should act in the interest of the whole nation, rather than just specific local groups.

- This idea supports the trustee model of representation, where elected officials prioritize their own judgment over direct constituent demands.

(Representatives' Motivations)

Fenno's Goals of Representatives:

- Reelection (Mayhew's "Electoral Connection"); representative focus on getting reelected. Maintaining connections with their constituents through regular communication and by delivering tangible benefits

When does the Electoral Connection break down?

- When they prioritize internal power and career advancement, constituents preference changes and the representative doesn't adapt, a long tenure or position of power causes reps to become disconnected from their constituents.

- Internal Power and Career Advancement

- Good Public Policy; some representatives are also motivated by a genuine desire to enact meaningful policies that benefit the public, more aligned with a trustee.

Representatives' Motivations

Mayhew's Reelection Activities:

"Electoral Connections":

- Advertising: Promoting positive name recognition among constituents

- Credit Claiming: Asserting role in a popular government outcome (also Blame Casting)

- Position Taking: Voting in legislature or publicly asserting a policy or political position

(Who Get Representation ?)

Fenno's Concentric Circles of Constituency:

- Describes the different layer of support that a representative has within their district. Each circle represents a different group of people, ranging from the broadest to the most personal supporters:

Fenno's Concentric Circles of Constituency:

Geographic Circle :

All people in the district

Does this include non-voters? Yes

Fenno's Concentric Circles of Constituency:

Reelection Circle :

- Citizens who voted for a representative, or likely to support in the next election

Fenno's Concentric Circles of Constituency:

Primary Circle :

- Strongest supporters vote in party primaries, volunteer, small donations

Fenno's Concentric Circles of Constituency:

Personal Circle:

- Friends and family, large donors, supporting organizations, staff and consultants

(Descriptive Representation)

Mansbridge, Four benefits of Descriptive Representation:

- Greater trust, better communication

- Better able to address constituents' preferences on new or unclear issues

- Show historic minorities holding office; symbol of progress

- Increased legitimacy of the democratic system; when people see that their identities are represented in elected offices as citizens are more likely to feel like their voices matter and the system works for them

Arguments against:

- Limited pool excludes talented candidates; narrows the pool of candidates excluding highly qualified candidates

- Identity politics or policy?

Critics argue that an overemphasis on identity politics can divert attention away from policy issues and the actual needs of the constituents. The concern is that if representatives are chosen based primarily on identity, they may focus more on group interests or symbolic representation rather than on effective policy-making or addressing the broader concerns of their entire electorate. This could lead to a fragmented political landscape where issues like education, healthcare, and economic policy get sidelined in favor of identity-driven agendas

(The Evolution of Speaker Power)

1890:

- Thomas "Czar" Reed (R) ends minority party power to delay,

- Played a significant role in ending minority party's ability to delay legislative proceeding in the U.S house of reps

(The Evolution of Speaker Power)

Reed's Rules:

- "No dilatory motion shall be entertained by the Speaker"

- Allowed the majority party to have greater control over the legislative process

- It gave the speaker more power to control debates and ensure that the majority part ould pass legislation efficiently

- Changed the way a quorum was counted, preventing the minority from stalling votes by refusing to answer roll calls, or attempted to prevent action by not showing up or engaing in delaying tactics

- This strengthened majority rule in the house and reduced legislative gridlock

(The Evolution of Speaker Power)

1910:

- "Uncle" Joe Cannon (R) ; wielded immense power in the house of reps; determined committee assignments including chairs, referred bills, chaired Rules committee, controlled floor debate and votes

- His dominance lead to a revolt

- Revolt! Progressive Republicans joined with Democrats to remove Cannon from Rules Committee

- The New Speaker stripped of power to assign members to committees, control the legislative agenda, and control the floor

- This shifted influence to individual committee and reduced centralized leadership in the house

(The Evolution of Speaker Power)

1910 - 1970s:

- Committee chairs more powerful than Speaker, Seniority system

- Power in the house of reps shifted from the speaker to the committee chairs, elected based on seniority rather than party leadership

- Sam Rayburn (D) longest serving Speaker"lead by persuasion and kindness"

- Long-serving conservative Southern Democrats held powerful chair committee positions, allowing them to block civil rights legislation and shape national policies despite broader democratic party shifts

(The Evolution of Speaker Power)

1973:

- Liberal Democrats led changes to party and House rules, Dems elected committee chairs in Caucus, Speaker names all Rules members, controls referrals

- liberal Democrats pushed for House and party rule changes to weaken the power of conservative committee chairs and strengthen party leadership.

- Democratic Caucus gained power to elect committee chairs, rather than automatically assigning them based on seniority.

- The Speaker regained control, now able to appoint all members of the Rules Committee and direct bill referrals, increasing their influence over legislation.

(The Modern Speaker: Top- Down Control)

1995:

- Newt Gingrich (R) selected all committee chairs, six-year term limit on chairs

- After republicans took control of the house, he implemented changes to centralize power

- Selected committee chairs rather than relying on seniority

- Chairs were limited to six year terms, preventing long- term dominance by any one member

(The Modern Speaker: Top- Down Control)

1999 - 2007:

- Dennis Hastert (R) only allowed votes on legislation favored by "majority of the majority" (Hastert Rule), punished policy dissent by removing Chair Smith from Veterans' Committee

- Enforced the Hastert Rule

- Only bills supported by a majority of the Republican majority were brought to a vote. This ensured party unity and prevented bipartisan coalitions from passing legislation without strong Republican support.

- Punished dissent by removing Chair Bob Smith from the Veterans' Affairs Committee after he opposed party leadership.

(The Modern Speaker: Top- Down Control)

2011 - 2015:

- John Boehner (R) faced backlash for compromising with President Obama, removed Freedom Caucus (Tea Party) members from committees, resigned facing motion to vacate

- From 2011 to 2015, Speaker John Boehner (R) struggled with internal party divisions:

- Faced backlash for compromising with President Obama, especially on budget deals and avoiding government shutdowns.

- Removed Tea Party-aligned Freedom Caucus members from key committees after they resisted his leadership and opposed compromise.

- Resigned in 2015 under pressure after facing a motion to vacate, a rare procedural move that could have removed him from the speakership.

(The Modern Speaker: Top- Down Control)

2019 - 2023:

- Nancy Pelosi (D) quelled opposition through dealmaking, control of floor and committees, opposition to Trump/Republicans

(The Modern Speaker: Top- Down Control)

2023 - present:

- Mike Johnson manages conservative and moderate defectors with help of President Trump

(Roles of The Speaker)

Speaker's Legislative Roles:

- Organizational - Oversees house Rules, procedures, and committees

- Procedural - Controls committees, sets floor agenda, and schedules votes

- Policy - Influences bills/ shapes bills, Negotiates with White House and Senate to influence party strategy on key issues

(Roles of The Speaker)

Speaker's Political Roles:

- Unity - maintains party discipline by using Pressure and rewards to keep members in line

- Media - serves as the party's public face, Media communication serves as a lead, delivering party talking points (all members stick to the same points).

- Campaigns - act as the Chief fundraiser, Controls party committee spending on elections to help maintain or gain a majority

(Electing a Speaker)

Article I, Clause 5:

- "The House of Representatives shall chuse [sic] their Speaker and other Officers"

- Meaning members of the house elect their own speaker, who serves as the chamber;s presiding officer. The clause also allows the house to choose other officers, such as the clerk, sergeant-at arms, and chaplain.

(Electing a Speaker)

First acts of each new Congress:

- Party caucuses select leaders (same process in Senate), then Speaker elected by majority of House members

1. Party Meetings to Pick Leaders:Before Congress officially begins, each political party (Democrats and Republicans) holds meetings called caucuses (or conferences in the Senate).

- In these meetings, they choose who will lead their party in the upcoming session. This includes positions like the Majority Leader (the leader of the party with the most seats) and the Minority Leader (the leader of the party with fewer seats).

- This step happens in both the House and the Senate.

2. Election of the Speaker of the House:

- The House of Representatives officially starts its session, and one of the first things they do is elect a Speaker of the House.

- The Speaker is a powerful position that helps run the House and decides which bills get debated.

- All House members (both Democrats and Republicans) vote for a Speaker, and the person who gets the majority of votes wins.

3. Other Setups and Swearing-In:

- Once the Speaker is chosen, all members of Congress take an official oath to begin their work.

- The House and Senate may also adopt rules that will guide how they operate for the next two years.

(Electing a Speaker)

January 2023: McCarthy elected on 15th ballot, gave concessions:

- Any member can call vote to vacate the chair McCarthy SuperPAC won't spend in open party primaries Votes on particular bills Seats on committees for certain members Follow "regular order" with 12 separate budget bills More open amendments, 72 hours to review bills Cap spending, Debt ceiling paired with budget cuts

- First speaker that wasn't elected on the first ballot

- Faced 14 ballots before securing speaker with 216 votes after concessions to handouts like Matt Gaetz

- If some members vote present and aren't there then you only need half of the votes not the entire

Concessions made:

- Allowed any one member to call a vote to vacate the speaker's chair with priority

- Promised not to spend (his superPAC(he's not allowed to coordinate with super pacs but maybe can tell them not to run ads)) in open party primaries

- Agreed to vote on regular budget process and allow more open amendments (most amendments are closed not allowing for adjustments)

(Mike Who?)

September 2023:

- Speaker McCarthy advances continuing resolution averting shutdown with majority Democratic votes, 90 Republican defections

- Removal: McCarthy ousted due to advancing clean continuing resolution to keep the government funded that did not meet the caucuses expectations (it didn't include the deep spending cuts or policy demands that hardline conservatives in his party wanted).

(Mike Who?)

October 2023:

- Rep. Gaetz brings motion to vacate, all Democrats and 8 Republicans vote to remove McCarthy as Speaker (Gaetz: "Chaos is Speaker McCarthy")

- Speakership sat empty for 3 weeks until new Speaker elected, no actions could be taken on House floor

- After three other nominees fail to win House majority, four-term Mike Johnson elected Speaker with no opposition from Republican members

(Mike Who?)

March 2024:

- Speaker Johnson advances "minibus" of six funding bills to avert shutdown

- A minibus: package of several smaller appropriations bills bundled together, in contrast to a larger, comprehensive spending package. This approach allowed the house to pass necessary funding without the risk of a shutdown, while addressing some of the key budgetary concerns.

(Mike Who?)

September 2024:

- Speaker Johnson advances clean continuing resolution to avert shutdown

Why can Johnson do what McCarthy could not?

(Party Leaders in the House)

Majority Leader (Scalise, R):

- Deputy to the Speaker Organizes floor schedule, consults with committee chairs (floor manager) and rank-and-file members

- While the speaker of the house holds the top position, the Majority leader (leader position within the majority party) serves as the deputy to the speaker and plays an important role in managing the day to day operations of the house

(Party Leaders in the House)

Majority Leader (Scalise, R):

Organizes the Floor Schedule:

- The Majority Leader is in charge of setting the agenda for what gets debated and voted on in the House. They help determine which bills will be considered and when, ensuring that the legislative process runs smoothly.

(Party Leaders in the House)

Majority Leader (Scalise, R):

Consults with Committee Chairs:

- The Majority Leader works closely with the heads of various committees in the House. They ensure that committee work aligns with the party's overall agenda and help move important bills through the legislative process.

(Party Leaders in the House)

Majority Leader (Scalise, R):

Acts as Floor Manager:

- The Majority Leader often serves as the party's main spokesperson on the floor of the House. They manage debates, direct members on how to vote, and work to rally support for the party's position on key issues.

(Party Leaders in the House)

Majority Leader (Scalise, R):

Represents Rank-and-File Members:

- The Majority Leader also communicates with and represents the interests of other Republican members in the House, ensuring their voices are heard and working to align them with the party's legislative goals.

(Party Leaders in the House)

Minority Leader (Jeffries, D):

- Floor leader for opposition party Monitors bills, maintains party unity, strategizes to win back majority (conflict or compromise with majority?)

- Serves to represent and guide the interests of the minority party, key figures in opposing the majority party's agenda ensuring party unity, and preparing for future elections. They play an essential role in maintaining checks on the majority and working to advance their party's priorities in the legislative process.

(Party Leaders in the House)

Minority Leader (Jeffries, D):

Floor Leader for the Opposition Party:

- The Minority Leader is the primary spokesperson for the party not in power. They lead the party in opposition to the Majority party, articulating alternative policies and positions.

(Party Leaders in the House)

Minority Leader (Jeffries, D):

Monitors Bills:

- The Minority Leader closely monitors all bills and legislative proposals being considered by the House. They assess the impact of bills on their party's priorities and work to either block or amend legislation that does not align with their party's values.

(Party Leaders in the House)

Minority Leader (Jeffries, D):

Maintains Party Unity:

- The Minority Leader works to keep their party united and coordinated in response to the Majority party's actions. This involves managing internal disagreements, aligning the party's message, and ensuring that members vote in a unified way when possible.

(Party Leaders in the House)

Minority Leader (Jeffries, D):

Strategizes to Win Back the Majority:

- One of the Minority Leader's key roles is to develop strategies to help their party regain the majority in future elections. This involves not only managing the party's legislative agenda but also helping members connect with voters and build support for the party's platform.

(Party Leaders in the House)

Minority Leader (Jeffries, D):

Conflict or Compromise with the Majority?

- The Minority Leader's role often involves navigating a conflict with the Majority, as they typically oppose the Majority's policies and bills. However, compromise can also occur, especially if both parties find common ground on important issues. The Minority Leader may be involved in negotiating with the Majority to reach a bipartisan solution on certain bills, especially on budget matters or critical legislation where cooperation is needed to avoid gridlock.

(Party leaders in the house)

Floor Managers:

- Steer bills toward final vote; guides a bill through its final stages of debate and amendment before it reaches a final vote, often are places as committee chairs or ranking members, work closely with party leaderships (majority leader or speaker) to ensure a bills passage; tasked with rallying fellow lawmakers and addressing any concerns or opposition that may arise during the process.

- members of Congress who play a crucial role in guiding bills through the legislative process, particularly on the floor of the House or Senate. They are responsible for steering bills toward a final vote and ensuring that the legislative process runs smoothly.

(Party leaders in the house)

Whips (Emmer, R / Clark, D):

- Count votes and mobilize coalitions to support their party's legislative agenda

- Force members to vote in unison (threats) or allow members to defect?

(Senate Party Leaders)

1800s:

No system of committees or leadership, Senate organized by personal talents and relationships, Tradition of member independence

(Senate Party Leaders)

1800s:

No Formal Committees or Leadership System:

- There was no formal system of committees or established leadership roles like the Majority or Minority Leader. Senate proceedings were much less structured.

- Senators didn't have specific roles to help organize legislation the way they do now. Instead, individual Senators took the lead on issues they were interested in or had expertise in.

(Senate Party Leaders)

1800s:

Senate Organized by Personal Talents and Relationships:

- The Senate was more informal, with organization based on personal relationships and individual talents rather than a strict leadership hierarchy.

- Senators worked with one another based on their personal reputations and skills. Some were more influential due to their experience, knowledge, or political connections.

(Senate Party Leaders)

1800s:

Tradition of Member Independence:

- Senators in the early 19th century were known for their independence. Each Senator was more like an individual actor, rather than a member of a tightly disciplined party or team.

- This culture of independence meant that Senators often acted according to their personal beliefs, regional interests, or relationships with other members, rather than following a party line or a set of party rules.

(Senate Party Leaders)

1913:

Party caucus chairs become Majority Leaders

(Senate Party Leaders)

Majority Leader (Thune, R):

- Builds coalitions to pass bills, often requires bipartisanship to avoid obstruction

- McConnell: Majority Leader like a cemetery groundskeeper, "Everyone's under you, but nobody's listening"

(Senate Party Leaders)

Minority Leader (Schumer, D):

- Maintains party unity, strategizes to win back majority, obstruct and delay (Filibuster)

(Senate Party Leaders)

Whips (Durbin, D / Barasso, R):

- Count votes and mobilize coalitions

(What Determines Leadership's Power?)

Conditional Party Government theory:

- When party members share policy goals and face distinct opposition party, members vest more power in party leaders

- Homogeneity in party + Conflict between parties = Strong party leaders Heterogeneity in party + Agreement across parties = Weak party leaders

- Direct relationship between size of majority and majority leader power, Smaller majorities empower individual members

(What Determines Leadership's Power?)

Pivotal Voter theory:

- Swing voters in Congress control outcomes (Manchin in Senate, Freedom Caucus in House)

- Omnibus (large, multi-issue) bills, limited time to review votes force members to accept leadership policy preferences

What Determines Leadership's Power?

Stoddard:

- Corporate donor influence unifies leaders across parties on policy, Base voters, small donors divide "extremist" members from leadership (Gaetz: "Boo all you want")

(Party Caucuses, Committees, and Groups)

Party Caucuses (or Conferences):

- All members of the party in chamber; particular political party within either the house of reps or the senate.

- Meet regularly, elect leaders, approve committee assignments, debate rules and policies, develop talking points, etc.

(Party Caucuses, Committees, and Groups)

Party Committees:

- specialized groups established by caucuses to serve party goals

- Strategize for elections, and organize efforts in the legislative process

- Influence Policy outcomes, manage campaign, Steering committees (committees on committees such as the house of rep dem committee and the republican national congressional committee; helps coordinate messaging, fundraising, and electoral efforts )

(Party Caucuses, Committees, and Groups)

Informal Groups:

- Ideology and identity-based coalitions, some bipartisan and bicameral

- Coalitions that form among members who share common interests, values, or goals. these groups can be influential in shaping legislation and guiding party strategy, even though they are not formally recognized as official committees

- Ex: Freedom Caucus, Tuesday Group, Problem Solvers, New Democrat Coalition, Progressive Caucus, Black Caucus, Hispanic Caucus, Hispanic Conference, etc.

(Party Factions in the House)

Democrats

- Liberal establishment: Big-government neoliberal (corporatist) insiders (Nancy Pelosi, Amy Klobuchar)

- Centrist firebrands: Socially conservative neoliberals (Josh Gottheimer, Joe Manchin)

- Progressive establishment: Socially and economically liberal insiders (Katie Porter, Elizabeth Warren)

- Progressive insurgents: Economically liberal former outsiders, now all tamed (AOC, Bernie Sanders)

(Party Factions in the House)

Republicans

- Moderate establishment: Most likely to seek bipartisan compromise, shrinking due to Trump opposition (Nancy Mace, Susan Collins)

- Conservative establishment: Insiders with conservative records (Kevin McCarthy, Chuck Grassley)

- Tea Party/Freedom Caucus: Small-government ideologues, outsiders (Chip Roy, Ted Cruz)

- Trump Insurgents: Populist outsiders, small-donor favorites (MTG, Tommy Tuberville)