Congress and Voting

Question 1

Political party

Answer 1

• A party vote sometimes occurs in Congress when the issue is a contentious, ideological matter, such as civil liberties, taxation, gun control, abortion or school prayers
• In 2013 both houses recorded party voting in just under 70% of all recorded votes
• Party voting has risen in Congress in recent years as a result of increasing partisanship

Question 2

The administration

Answer 2

• Members of the administration - from the departments and agencies as well as the White House itself - keep in contact with members of Congress through phone calls as well as meetings in an attempt to persuade them to cast their votes in certain ways
• Any persuasion needs to be regular, reciprocal and bipartisan

Question 3

Pressure groups

Answer 3

• They make direct contact with members as well as with their staff. They attempt to generate public support for their position. They make visits and phone calls, provide evidence to committees, organise rallies, demonstrations and petition drives, and engage in fundraising and campaigning.

Question 4

Colleagues and staff

Answer 4

• Other colleagues can be helpful. A congressman might turn to fellow members of the same chamber and of the same party who share the same philosophy and views
• Senior staff members such as the chief of staff or legislative director will tell certain Congress members to vote in a particular way

Question 5

Personal beliefs

Answer 5

• On certain votes, House or Senate members may vote according to their own personal beliefs. Issues such as abortion, capital punishment, taxation, federal subsidies and defence spending

Question 6

What is a Congressional caucus?

Answer 6

• The collection of members of either major party elected to the House of Senate. More widely, an association of members of Congress to advance a certain interest

Question 7

Functions of a congressional caucus

Answer 7

• Educational: Caucuses provide information to members on proposed legislation and may offer policy briefings as well as publishing briefing papers
• Agenda setting: Caucus members nay work together to boost the chances of their particular issue getting on to the congressional legislative agenda.
• Encouraging support for their proposals in votes on the floor of each chamber

Question 8

Examples of caucuses

Answer 8

• Congressional black caucus
• Congressional hispanic caucus
• House freedom caucus
• The tuesday group