1. Institutional Analysis
Lecture 3: The Changing Nature of Congressional Elections

2. Representative Democracy
Key:
Create electoral process that ensured no one faction always dominated.
Institutional Mechanisms:
Popular Elections
Different constituency base
Different tenures

3. Nature of Politics Power to the states
In early years, most of the power lay with the state governments.
A stint in Washington, or the swamp, was a means of moving up the state political latter. People were mostly rotated in and out of office.
As late as 1879, more than half of the Hose members at any given moment were freshmen.

4. Rise of Careerism:
In the latter half of the 19th Century politicians began to view office seeking and holding as a career.
By the end of the century, the proportion of newcomers had fallen to 30 percent and the average House tenure reached 3 terms.
See picture…

5. Causes of the Rise of Careerism
Proliferation of one-party states and districts
After the Civil War, the entrenchment of the Democratic party in the South and cities made it easier to reelect a dominant parties candidate.
Increasing power of the federal government
As the role of federal government grows, a career in Washington, DC becomes more attractive.
Physical environment of Washington DC
Some argue with the advent of air conditioning, Congress could stay in session over the summer, making it a viable legislative entity.

6. Question: Wither Democracy?
As turnover drops and careerisms increases, the concern is how representative are members of Congress to constituents.
As the tenure of members of Congress rise, do members become more insulated from electoral demands?