EARLY YEARS, s continued WHY FORM/USE STANDING COMMITTEES? WHY FORM/USE STANDING COMMITTEES? 1.) Nomothetic Explanation: informational theory, distributive theory, partisan theory 1.) Nomothetic Explanation: informational theory, distributive theory, partisan theory Do committees serve “multiple principals”? Do committees serve “multiple principals”? 2.) Idiographic Explanation 2.) Idiographic Explanation HOUSE: aftermath of War of 1812 HOUSE: aftermath of War of 1812 a.) death of the Federalists; growing factionalization of Republicans; emergence of Democrats a.) death of the Federalists; growing factionalization of Republicans; emergence of Democrats b.) financial mismanagement by executive branch b.) financial mismanagement by executive branch c.) growing congressional workload; increased constituent demands (election of 1816) c.) growing congressional workload; increased constituent demands (election of 1816) Standing committee structure pretty much complete by 1822 Standing committee structure pretty much complete by 1822 SENATE: happened more or less all at once SENATE: happened more or less all at once

Late 19 th Century: Golden Age of Parties on Capitol Hill The pre-Civil War party system: Whigs vs. Democrats, competitive nationwide The pre-Civil War party system: Whigs vs. Democrats, competitive nationwide Post-Civil War: heavily regionalized party system, leading to safe districts and lower turnover Post-Civil War: heavily regionalized party system, leading to safe districts and lower turnover High intraparty homogeneity and interparty heterogeneity led to conditions for strong party leadership in both chambers (See graphs in Smith and Gamm, pp )

Golden Age of Parties cont’d “Reed’s rules”: began with elimination of “disappearing quorum” & other dilatory tactics; continued with increased use of House Rules Committee as leadership tool “Reed’s rules”: began with elimination of “disappearing quorum” & other dilatory tactics; continued with increased use of House Rules Committee as leadership tool “Czar” Cannon’s amazing tripod of power “Czar” Cannon’s amazing tripod of power (committee system, scheduling, floor debate) --increasing ideological conflict within the GOP: “Old Guard” vs. “Progressives”

Golden Age of Parties, Cont’d First challenges 1909: Calendar Wednesday, consent calendar First challenges 1909: Calendar Wednesday, consent calendar Revolt in 1910: led by Norris’ motion to strip Speaker of HRC chairmanship and committee appointment powers Revolt in 1910: led by Norris’ motion to strip Speaker of HRC chairmanship and committee appointment powers Democrats and “King Caucus” Democrats and “King Caucus”

The “Textbook Congress” 1920s- 1970s Growing decentralization, weakening parties, and member independence due to: Growing decentralization, weakening parties, and member independence due to: --Australian ballot --Australian ballot --Primary elections replaced “SFR” method of nomination --Primary elections replaced “SFR” method of nomination --Norm of continuing committee assignments --Norm of continuing committee assignments --Direct election of Senators (1913) --Direct election of Senators (1913) --Continued regional/ideological division within both parties --Continued regional/ideological division within both parties

“Textbook Congress” continued EMERGENCE OF SENIORITY SYSTEM EMERGENCE OF SENIORITY SYSTEM --committee assignments --committee assignments --committee chairmanships --committee chairmanships --leadership succession (esp. Democrats) --leadership succession (esp. Democrats) EMERGENCE OF CONSERVATIVE COALITION during FDR’s second term EMERGENCE OF CONSERVATIVE COALITION during FDR’s second term (How seniority system benefited the South) (How seniority system benefited the South) Speaker Sam Rayburn ( ): bargaining, accommodative style of leadership Speaker Sam Rayburn ( ): bargaining, accommodative style of leadership

“Textbook Congress Cont’d” Donald Matthews, US Senators and Their World (1960) Donald Matthews, US Senators and Their World (1960) Mid-20 th Century norms observed by Matthews: apprenticeship, specialization, reciprocity, be a “workhorse” not a “showhorse,” institutional patriotism, courtesy Mid-20 th Century norms observed by Matthews: apprenticeship, specialization, reciprocity, be a “workhorse” not a “showhorse,” institutional patriotism, courtesy Consequences of violating norms? Consequences of violating norms?

End of the Textbook Congress SEEDS OF REFORM SEEDS OF REFORM midterm elections—created disparity between caucus and committee chairs: 39.3% of House Democrats were Southern, but 61.9% of committee chairs were Southern midterm elections—created disparity between caucus and committee chairs: 39.3% of House Democrats were Southern, but 61.9% of committee chairs were Southern --formation of Democratic Study Group (DSG) --formation of Democratic Study Group (DSG) Expansion of Rules Committee in 1961 Expansion of Rules Committee in 1961

End of the Textbook Congress The “Revolt Against the Committee Chairs” of early 1970s The “Revolt Against the Committee Chairs” of early 1970s 1.) revitalization of Caucus; committee chair interviews and approval by Caucus 1.) revitalization of Caucus; committee chair interviews and approval by Caucus 2.) Subcommittee Bill of Rights (decentralizing) 2.) Subcommittee Bill of Rights (decentralizing) 3.) POWERS GIVEN TO SPEAKER (centralizing) 3.) POWERS GIVEN TO SPEAKER (centralizing) --appoint majority party members on Rules Committee --appoint majority party members on Rules Committee --more power over committee assignments (leadership of, partial appointment of, and multiple votes on CoCs) --more power over committee assignments (leadership of, partial appointment of, and multiple votes on CoCs) --power of multiple referral and ad hoc committees --power of multiple referral and ad hoc committees 4.) Greater openness 4.) Greater openness --more recorded votes (electronic voting) --more recorded votes (electronic voting) --open committee hearings, C-SPAN --open committee hearings, C-SPAN Unintended consequences of greater openness? Unintended consequences of greater openness?

The Post-Reform Congress, present Party voting and party unity increased greatly in the 1980s---why? Party voting and party unity increased greatly in the 1980s---why? 1.) Aftereffects of Voting Rights Act of ) Aftereffects of Voting Rights Act of ) Growth of GOP in South (transplants, converts, and generational change)—effects on primary elections 2.) Growth of GOP in South (transplants, converts, and generational change)—effects on primary elections 3.) Reaganism and the centralization/’fiscalization’ of politics 3.) Reaganism and the centralization/’fiscalization’ of politics 4.) More aggressive party leadership? 4.) More aggressive party leadership? ---increasing use of rules to limit members’ options, more omnibus bills ---increasing use of rules to limit members’ options, more omnibus bills

The Post-Reform Congress Cont’d --party leaders more involved in recruiting and funding their parties’ candidates (e.g. “leadership PACs”) --party leaders more involved in recruiting and funding their parties’ candidates (e.g. “leadership PACs”) --Better socialization/inclusion of new members --Better socialization/inclusion of new members The Republican Revolution of 1994 The Republican Revolution of 1994 PRELUDE: Gingrich’s “COS” hardball tactics, Jim Wright’s unprecedented use of power, big turnover in 1992 due to unique factors PRELUDE: Gingrich’s “COS” hardball tactics, Jim Wright’s unprecedented use of power, big turnover in 1992 due to unique factors

POST-REFORM Congress cont’d 1994 CAMPAIGN: Contract w/America, morphing into Clinton 1994 CAMPAIGN: Contract w/America, morphing into Clinton SPEAKER GINGRICH’s FIRST 100 DAYS SPEAKER GINGRICH’s FIRST 100 DAYS --handpicked, dominated, and bypassed committees --handpicked, dominated, and bypassed committees --reorganization of committee system --reorganization of committee system --term limits on leadership positions --term limits on leadership positions --some attempt at increasing minority rights --some attempt at increasing minority rights

POST-REFORM CONGRESS CONT’D GINGRICH’S DOWNFALL GINGRICH’S DOWNFALL --Budget Showdown with Clinton ’95-’96 --Budget Showdown with Clinton ’95-’96 --Emerging ideological/regional splits with GOP --Emerging ideological/regional splits with GOP --Senate stymies Contract --Senate stymies Contract : Year of Cooperation (min. wage, welfare reform, health care) : Year of Cooperation (min. wage, welfare reform, health care) --Gingrich’s ethics, attempted coup --Gingrich’s ethics, attempted coup --Impeachment fiasco the final blow elections --Impeachment fiasco the final blow elections

The Polarized Era (1995 – today) Unified Republican Govt. (more or less) – first 6 yrs. of “W’s” Presidency Unified Republican Govt. (more or less) – first 6 yrs. of “W’s” Presidency