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.

1. Day 4 – The Professionalization of
Congress
July 1, 2013

2. Edmund Burke in the 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
 Three major characteristics:
 Well-bounded
 Example?
 Relatively Complex
 Example?
 Use of universalistic rather than particularistic criteria
 Example?

4. Well-Bounded
What argument is Polsby supporting with this graph?
The “Graying Congress” -
http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-
CONGRESS_AGES_1009.html

5. Relative Complexity
 How does 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
 What argument is Polsby supporting with this graph?

7. Are these patterns still 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 a Legislator’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
 “The League of Dangerous Mapmakers” by Robert
Draper.

10. In Class Response Essay
 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.
