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Day 4 - The Professionalization and Institutionalization of Congress
This document discusses the professionalization of Congress and institutionalization. It references an article about Edmund Burke and his teachings for modern conservatives. It discusses how Congress as an institution has become well-bounded, relatively complex, and uses universalistic criteria. Examples are provided for each characteristic. The document also discusses how legislative decision making has evolved from the early Congress to today's complex committee system. Finally, it discusses the factors that have driven increased careerism in Congress such as redistricting, growth of government, prestige of the position, and benefits of seniority.
Day 4 - The Professionalization and Institutionalization of Congress
- 1. Day 4 –The Professionalization of Congress July 1, 2013
- 2. Edmund Burke inthe News “Edmund Burke Has a Lot to Teach Today’s Conservatives” http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ej-dionne- edmund-burke-has-a-lot-to-teach-todays- conservatives/2013/06/30/10f8c95c-e1b5-11e2- a11e-c2ea876a8f30_story.html
- 3. Institutionalized Organizations Threemajor characteristics: Well-bounded Example? Relatively Complex Example? Use of universalistic rather than particularistic criteria Example?
- 4. Well-Bounded What argument isPolsby supporting with this graph? The “Graying Congress” - http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info- CONGRESS_AGES_1009.html
- 5. Relative Complexity Howdoes the early Congress make decisions/divide the labor of law making? http://www.house.gov/committees/ http://www.govtrack.us/congress/committees/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_United_S tates_House_of_Representatives_committees
- 6. Universalistic Criteria Whatargument is Polsby supporting with this graph?
- 7. Are these patternsstill supported? The GOP’s “Young Guns” http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedde d&v=2GXMqSLpOJQ DOL (p.34) – House reforms in the 1970s The “Republican Revolution” in 1994. In spite of efforts like the “Young Guns” and reforms in the House, seniority is still a powerful force. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100014240527487044057 04576063940105791446.html
- 8. Evolution of aLegislator’s Job What mechanisms drive the increase of careerism in the U.S. Congress? Increase in one-party states and districts (following what events?) Growth of national government Increased prestige with the position Benefits of seniority
- 9. Tonight’s Reading “TheLeague of Dangerous Mapmakers” by Robert Draper.
- 10. In Class ResponseEssay In roughly one handwritten page, answer the following question. You can use your notes to answer the question. Both the text (DOL pp.28-40) and Polsby (1968) discuss the increasing “institutionalization” of Congress. Many argue that institutionalization is bad for the country and is the reason why Congress is ineffective. This has led to a number citizens and groups to advocate imposing term- limits on members of Congress (e.g. establishing a maximum number of terms they can serve). Would you support a constitutional amendment that imposed term- limits on members of the House of Representatives? Why yes or no? Use the course material to support your argument.