parties have become less significant in recent years

Question 1

party line voting

Answer 1

-in the 1980s an MOC voted in line with their party about 70% of the time, by the 2010s it was about 90%
-the senate has become more partisan in nature e.g. the nomination of brett kavanaugh only 1 senator (manchin) broke party lines
-during the obama era, ACA was passed by straight line party vote

Question 2

party line voting evaluation

Answer 2

There have been instances of bipartisanship in the US Congress, where legislators from different parties have worked together on important issues. This suggests that party line voting is not always the norm. For example, 12 Republican senators joined with all the Democratic
senators to support the Respect for Marriage Act 2022. The Republican senators in question were moderates such as Susan Collins (Maine) who took a position closer to the views of their constituents rather than the party leadership.

Question 3

control of elections/legislative agenda by party leaders

Answer 3

-pelosi persuaded her democratic colleagues to vote on a national ticket, she convinced them to vote on issues including:
-securing the $1.9trillion stimulus
-passing the affordable care act in 2010

Question 4

control by party leaders evaluation

Answer 4

Given that MoCs are “single minded seekers of re-election” (Prof. Mayhew), they are unlikely to follow party leaders if it jeopardises their re-election chances. A relevant example is Senator Joe Manchin (Democrat, West Virginia) who refuses to support the Democrats’ national platform in relation to environmental issues. Manchin is a fierce protector of the coal industry in his state – putting him at odds with Senate Majority Leader
Chuck Schumer and President Biden.

Question 5

influence of ‘powerful minorities’

Answer 5

-pressure groups exert influence in two ways:
-electioneering: MOCs must raise finance to to win re-election e.g. Rubio’s securing of $3.3 million from the NRA
-strategic intervention: small government republicans who question the affordability of medicare and social security face fierce lobbying by the AARP

Question 6

‘powerful minorities’ evaluation

Answer 6

It would be wrong to think of pressure groups and party leaders always being at odds. Occasionally, pressure groups enhance the ability of party leaders to control their parties. For example, the rival pressure group to NRA, the pro-gun control Brady Campaign, has effectively lobbied conservative ‘Blue Dog’ Democrats like Joe Manchin to support a ban on assault weapons – in line with the leadership position of Senate
Majority Leader Schumer.

Question 7

influence of caucuses

Answer 7

-caucuses can be significant voting blocks in congress and can influence an MOCs voting behaviour
-these groups seek to advance legislation that is n the interests of the group they are representing
-CBC is in line with democrats on voting laws, but out of line with democrats on slavery reparations
-the MAGA caucus is more loyal to trump than republican leader mccarthy

Question 8

caucus evaluation

Answer 8

Not all members of Congress belong to a caucus. This can limit the influence of a caucus, as it may not have the support or engagement of all members of Congress. For example, the House Freedom Caucus of MAGA Republicans has varied between 30-40 members in recent years. The Republicans elect over 200 members to the House – demonstrating the limited reach of the caucus. In contrast, 99% of MoCs belong to a
political party and rely on party leaders for the all-important committee assignments.