March 2, 2006

• Blair Williams on Informal Networks in Congress

• Coalitions

• A first look at lobbying

• Introduction of bills

Informal Networks in Congress

By

Blair Williams

Where do we find Informal Networks in Play?

• On the floor– During Roll Call Voting

• In Committee and Subcommittee– Co-sponsoring Bills– Co-Introducing Bills– Issuing Joint Press Releases– Entering Supportive Statements into the

Official Record

Where do we find Informal Networks in Play?

• House Office Buildings– Office Location - Seniority is important– Cafeteria– Member's Only Elevator / Underground Tram– Home away from Home Phenomenon

• CODELs (Congressional Delegations)– Official overseas travel– Long Air Travel, Spouses and Family members

can occasionally attend

Members who have Traveled Together on more than 3 Trips

Members who have Traveled Together for more than 10 Days

Where do we find Informal Networks in Play?

• Outside Locations– House Gym– Congressional Prayer Breakfast (every Tues)– Republican and Democrat Clubs– Apartment Locations– Annual Baseball and Golf Tournament

• CMO's (Caucuses)– 308 Caucuses between 107th-109th Congress– Representative interests drive membership

Member Ideology vs. Caucus Membership

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Caucus Membership

Mem

ber

Ideo

log

yD

W-N

om

inat

e S

core

s

Democrats Republicans

Population Median Quartile Point Population Median Quartile Point

0.6

0.39

-0.35

-0.58

18 24 33 37

Members in More than 25 Caucuses Together

Caucus Observations

• Democrats dominate Caucuses - Why?– Excluded from formal policymaking process– Republicans eschew organizations outside of

the party• Leadership

• Discipline

– Democrats represent groups that traditionally lack outside commercial interests, as a result, caucuses serves a means for these groups to have access to government.

Questions?

“Congressional Vote Options”-David King & Richard Zeckhauser

Vote Options

• “Hip pocket” votes, “if you need me” pledges

• Result of using vote options: victories narrower than losses

• Excess votes are not bought

• Votes not bought for losing efforts

• Reason for options: uncertainty

Options: United v. Divided Govt.

• United Government– President wins votes 2/3 of time– Victories by slimmer margins than losses

• Divided Government– Speaker mobilizes against President– Speaker wins 70% of the time– As in United Government, Victories are by

slimmer margins than losses

Conclusions

• Legislators “strategically wait” to cast votes

• Vote options likely to be exercised when outcome is close to 50%

• Narrow wins more frequent than narrow losses

• If vote is not close enough, votes are released by leaders

• Outside the swinging doors