poli sci feb 9

Congressional Function and Polarization

Focus of discussion is on Congress and its functional dynamics as outlined in Article One of the U.S. Constitution.
Exploration of the current state of Congress in terms of political polarization and whether Democrats should take control in the future.

Bowling Alone: A pivotal book by Harvard political scientist Bob Putnam that examines polarization in America.
The book highlights a decline in civic participation and the rise of polarization.

Reference to Alexis de Tocqueville, a 19th-century French political observer.
- Observations on American skepticism towards elites.
- Noted difficulties in attracting high-quality individuals to politics.
- Mentioned that even back then, the word "politician" bore negative connotations.
De Tocqueville noted that civic associations in small towns were vital for nurturing American democracy.

Examined the decline of civic participation from 1960 to 1974.
- Types of organizations included: bowling leagues, softball leagues, rotary clubs, and various neighborhood associations.
Putnam emphasized that civic associations are critical for building civic trust and engagement, which are essential for democracy.

Bowling leagues function as platforms for collective decision-making and community engagement.
- Participants learn about the challenges of collaboration and governance.
Decline in such associations could lead to the atomization of American democracy.
Putnam concluded that deteriorating civic involvement creates mistrust in institutions and undermines community capital.

Reference to Lilliana Mason’s book titled Uncivil Agreement.
Mason’s thesis asserts that increasing ideological sorting and identity politics contribute to polarization:
- Sorting: Democrats and Republicans increasingly segregate into ideologically homogenous communities.
- Identity stacking: People associate multiple identities with their ideologies, leading to increased homogeneity in social networks.

Increasingly, Republicans and Democrats experience similar preferences across lifestyle choices (cars, food, etc.), resulting in a steep reduction in contact with opposing viewpoints.
Motivated reasoning: Individuals tend to seek out and embrace information that confirms their existing beliefs, leading to further entrenchment.
- Evident that partisan individuals are often the least persuadable.
Negative partisanship: Voters may express more animosity towards the opposing party rather than focus on beneficial policies.

Discussion of the unique nature of American Congressional politics:
- Candidate-Centered Elections: Highlighted how congresspeople maintain power through an ongoing relationship with constituents rather than direct party allegiance.
Popularity paradox: Despite Congress being generally unpopular, individual representatives tend to have high approval ratings.

Historical data shows over 80% reelection rates for House representatives from 1964 to 2018.
Reasons for this phenomenon explored:
- Representatives are effective in constituency service (casework).
- Earmarking and log-rolling strategies enhance appeal to voters.

Definition: Casework encompasses tasks that help connect constituents with their government representatives to facilitate problem-solving.
- Examples: Issues involving postal delivery, assistance with federal agencies, or military academy nominations.
Importance: Successful casework can convert constituents into supporters at election time.

Log-rolling: The practice of exchanging votes among legislators to achieve mutual legislative goals.
- Example: The Farm Bill demonstrates log-rolling through joint benefits for urban and rural legislators.
Earmarks: Specific allocations of spending enacted into legislation, often used to incentivize votes on larger bills.
- Historical voucher and legislation detail showcasing how earmarks help secure votes from different constituencies.

Discussion of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and the role of earmarks in securing votes.
- Political maneuvering by congressional leaders to ensure passage despite public dissatisfaction.
Cornhusker Kickback: Specific example demonstrating how strategic earmarking (like exemptions for certain states) played a pivotal role in legislative success.

Definition: The process by which Congress supervises and evaluates the actions of executive agencies.
Recently observed through investigations surrounding the January 6 incident and other scandals.
Oversight serves as a mechanism for Congress to appear responsive to constituents' concerns.

The tendency of Congress to react rather than proactively address issues leads to a constant cycle of solving crises.
Anticipation of upcoming discussions regarding the bureaucracy and the relationship between oversight and electoral incentives in Congress.