2.3 Interpretations and debates - not done. Flashcards
Why is the significance of parties in Congress changing?
One of the most important developments in recent years - polarisation of parties - Democrats and Republicans have moved further apart in terms of values and policies.
This fits closely with increased partisanship - each party is becoming more internally united, in opposition to the other party.
Why was the Republican party criticised for excessive partisanship during the Obama presidency?
Some politicians seemingly opposed any policy supported by Obama. E.g, the then-House Budget Committee Chair Tom Price refused to begin committee consideration of Obama’s final $4 trillion budget proposal.
How are party unity scores calculated?
By looking at the number of times a member of Congress votes with the majority in their own party.
The average unity in the 113th Congress (2013-14) was 92% for the Democrats and 90% for the Republicans - ‘a record for sustained party discipline unmatched in the House in the history of our party unity studies’ - according to the Congress Quarterly.
How has voting between parties become more divergent than at any other period since WWII?
Political middle has disappeared, with declines in moderate conservative and Blue Dog Democrats - who representation a crossover between the two parties.
Essentially, used to be more overlap between the parties.
Why, still, is partisanship not absolute?
Instances of bipartisan agreement and compromise:
- Democrat and Republican Senators worked together after 2012 election in ‘Gang of 8’ to pass immigration reform (blocked by the House)
- D and R have eventually arrived at compromise measures allowing budgets to be passed, and the two sides have agreed on removal of filibusters for judicial nomination
- Cross-party agreement in vote to overturn Obama’s Saudi Arabia legislation veto - upheld Congress’s original law to allow families of 9/11 to sue the Saudi Arabian govt
What is the main implication of partisanship?
Gridlock:
- Reduced Congress’s ability to pass legislation, recently
- 112th and 113th very unproductive - 208 (112th) and 212 (113th) substantive laws
What may be the upsides to a rise in partisanship, and therefore gridlock, in Congress? On the other hand, why not?
Could see it as a healthy sign that govt can’t enforce too many policies on the people - perhaps reflects vision of Founding Fathers in creating constitutional procedures to ensure limited govt.
On the other hand, it could be seen as a failure of Congress to address the specific needs of the nation - gridlock, over the budget and health care, led to the financially disastrous budget shutdown of 2013.
How has the rise in partisanship had a major impact on presidential power, in a divided government?
Under divided government, the president might fail to provide significant leadership - Congress could obstruct policy initiatives, adopting an aggressive oversight role.
This characterised presidential congressional relations between Obama and the Republican-led Congress (2011-16) and Bush and the Democrat-led Congress (2007-08), and reduced presidential power significantly.
What is divided govt?
When the House, Senate and presidency are not all controlled by one party.
How has the rise in partisanship had a major impact on presidential power, in a united government?
With 1 party holding the presidency, House and Senate, partisanship may lead to a major rise in the power of the presidency - driven more by party loyalty, Congressional politicians may overlook oversight and fail to provide significant checks on the executive.
Congress was accused on ‘forgetting’ to provide oversight of the Bush administration when president held Republican majority - despite controversies over the Iraq War, the Patriot Act and creation of the Guantanamo detention camp.
What is the impact of lower party unity levels on role of Congress?
- Weak leadership due to limited patronage power of leaders - means individuals don’t always vote with their party
- Constituency opinion has stronger influence than party
- Members of Congress may be strongly allied to an interest group or congressional caucus or faction
What is the impact of higher party unity levels on role of Congress?
- Leaders in Congress have become more powerful, with nationalisation of mid-terms and speaker’s increased power
- Increased partisanship led to high levels of party unity
What constitutional and structural changes has Congress undergone that have increased its powers?
16th amendment (1913) - gave Congress the power to levy federal income tax, marking a major increase in the power of federal govt in general
Move to directly elected Senators with the 17th amendment (1913) increased legitimacy of the Senate and allowed it to increase its power relative to the House
How have changes to Congress led to a change in congressional power?
The rise in importance of foreign and military policy - arguably undermined congressional power - military action became faster, more complex more deadly, the president, surrounded by superior executive resources
The nationalisation of mid-term elections - has centralised greater power in hands of House speaker - under divided govt, has allowed speaker to act as a significant rival to the president
Partisanship - under divided govt has arguably strengthen Congress’s power - as it becomes more determined to challenge presidential power
What short-term changes to Congress are there?
Power of Congress is constantly in flux, with frequent elections changing the party majority in each chamber - and executive control.
Tempting to see an election result that produces a divided govt as one that creates a more powerful Congress - arguably more assertive.
