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Congressional decision-making: How does it work? Ch. 7

Congressional decision-making: How does it work? Ch. 7. What five factors influence reps.’ decisions in Congress? What is divided government, and why is it a problem? Why is logrolling sometimes controversial? What is the difference between iron triangles and issue networks?. The party.

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Congressional decision-making: How does it work? Ch. 7

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  1. Congressional decision-making:How does it work?Ch. 7 What five factors influence reps.’ decisions in Congress? What is divided government, and why is it a problem? Why is logrolling sometimes controversial? What is the difference between iron triangles and issue networks?

  2. The party • Party leaders are first line in decision-making • 60% vote strictly along party lines every time • “right in” vs. “center out” partisanship • Tactics used to “persuade” party members to vote a certain way • Members threatened in loss of certain positions in Congress (chairs, committees…) • Divided government—when different parties control Congress and the White House • can lead to problems passing agenda (gridlock)

  3. Their constituents • Constituents—people who live/vote in a representative’s home district/state • Tend to vote with major opinion of their districts 66% of time (same as Congress as a whole) • Tend to act as trustees with topics in committee or on topics they don’t know much about • Charged topics (i.e., same-sex marriage) often drive members to vote with the majority of their district (“wedge issues”)

  4. Their colleagues/caucuses • Logrolling—vote trading; voting in support/against a bill in return for a promise of future support • Usually on issues of earmarks/pork • Those with common interests work in special-interest caucuses (today, an informal group within Congress) • i.e., Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, Black Caucus • Includes both parties within the caucus

  5. Remember, main goal of IG is to influence legislation IG through lobbyist provides research, information to reps. to help them understand potential impact of legislation Use grassroots appeals (persuasion through votes) PACs provide financial support to campaigns More likely to support those who listened to them in the past Iron triangle—symbolic link between Congress, agency, and interest group Issue network—more realistic symbolism of how Congress works with groups outside Interest groups, lobbyists, PACs

  6. House: 17+ staff members (D.C./district offices) Often greatest influence on legislators; sometimes contacted just as much by lobbyists Committees also have their own staffs Congressional Research Service (CRS), 1914—nonpartisan research for Congress by the Library of Congress Government Accountability Office (GAO), 1921—audits finances of executive branch, sets gov’t standards for accounting, conducts studies for Congress Congressional Budget Office (CBO), 1974—evaluates effect of spending programs and predicted costs of policies, provides information for budget debates Their staff/support agencies

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