CPOL 632
Fall 2009
Hall of States (444 N. Capitol )
M 6:40 - 9:30
Instructor: Matthew Green
315 Marist Hall
Phone: 319-5667
E-mail: greenm@cua.edu
OH: W 11:30-1:30 or by
appt.
Parties and Leaders in the U.S. Congress
Overview: Party organizations and party leaders are two fundamental features of the U.S.
Congress. Congressional parties coordinate activity in the House and Senate and help
legislators achieve their policy and electoral goals, while party leaders can exercise
considerable influence over the legislative process and Congress’ internal structure and
authority. Using a theoretical, historical, and case-study approach, this course explores
the politics of congressional parties, with a particular focus on party leaders. Topics
include: the historical development of congressional parties and party leadership;
theories of political parties and leaders; the origins and consequences of party
polarization in Congress; the goals, strategies, and tactics of majority and minority
parties; competing theories of political leadership; how parties choose leaders; and the
role of party leaders in shaping policy and the legislative process.
Most class meetings will begin with a student-led presentation of the readings. The
student who leads the presentation will also submit at least three questions related to the
readings to spur subsequent discussion.
Requirements: Requirements for the course are as follows:
(a) attendance and participation in class;
(b) short presentations of the readings and facilitation of discussion in two
different class meetings;
(c) one short paper (4-6 pages, double-spaced, due at the start of the requisite
class) analyzing one or more of the required readings; and
(d) a final, in-class written exam (on December 14) OR a 15-page research paper
on a topic related to the course (due on December 14). Students wishing to do the
research paper must have their topic approved by the instructor no later than
October 26.
Grading: Grades are based on the following criteria: attendance and participation, 15%;
class presentation, 20% (10% each); short paper, 25%; final exam/research paper, 40%.
Readings: There are two required texts, available for purchase at the CUA bookstore:
Party Influence in Congress by Steven Smith (2007) and Party Wars by Barbara Sinclair
(2006). All other readings will be available on the on-line Blackboard system
(http://bb.cua.edu/). If you are unfamiliar with congressional politics, a couple of basic
texts are also recommended as references: Davidson, Oleszek, and Lee’s Congress and
Its Members, which provides a useful textbook overview of how Congress functions, and
Congressional Quarterly’s two-volume Guide to Congress.
Use of electronic devices. No cell phones, laptop computers, blackberries, PDAs, or
similar devices may be used during class. Phones must be turned off before class begins.
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Academic Honesty: All CUA students are expected to follow the university’s standards
for academic honesty and avoid committing such acts as plagiarism, data fabrication,
resubmission of old work as new research without approval, or cheating on an exam.
Any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty in this course will be subject to
severe penalties – ranging from failure in the course to expulsion from the university.
Read and be familiar with the university’s definitions of academic dishonesty and
punishments for such dishonesty, which are available on the university website
(http://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/integrityprocedures.cfm).
COURSE OUTLINE
Note: Readings in bold font are required; readings in plain font are optional.
I. Introduction and Historical Background
Class 1: Organizational Meeting and Introduction (Aug. 31)
Required:
* Davenport, Coral and Avery Palmer (2009), “A Landmark Climate Bill Passes”
(CQ Weekly Report, June 29) [Blackboard]
* Hunter, Kathleen (2009), “Zen and the Art of Walking Softly” (CQ Weekly
Report, June 29) [Blackboard]
Suggested:
* Davidson, Roger H., Walter J. Oleszek, and Frances E. Lee (2010), Congress
and Its Members, 12th ed. (ch. 6, pp. 157-197).
* http://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_index_subjects/Leadership_vrd.htm
(an online resource on leadership in the Senate), http://www.house.gov/house/
orgs_pub_hse_ldr_www.shtml (a directory of leaders in the House)
** Sept. 7: Labor Day (No Class) **
Class 2: Historical Development of Party Organizations and Leadership (Sept. 14)
Required:
* U.S. House (1994), History of the United States House of Representatives,
1789-1994, ch. 6 (pp. 115-142) [Blackboard]
* Gamm, Gerald and Steven S. Smith (2002), “Policy Leadership and the
Development of the Modern Senate,” ch. 11 in Brady and McCubbins, Party,
Process, and Political Change in Congress (pp. 287-311) [Blackboard]
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Suggested:
* Davidson, Roger M (1988), “The New Centralization on Capitol Hill” (Review
of Politics 50, pp. 345-364)
* Galloway, George B (1976), History of the House of Representatives, ch. 7 & 9
(pp. 109-148, 161-194)
* Gamm, Gerald and Steve S. Smith (2000), “Last Among Equals: The Senate’s
Presiding Officer,” ch. 6 in Burdett Loomis ed., Esteemed Colleagues (pp.
105-136)
* Peters, Ronald M. (1997), The American Speakership
* Remini, Robert V. (2006), The House: The History of the House of
Representatives
* Rohde, David (1991), Parties and Leaders in the Postreform House, ch. 2 & 4
* Strahan, Randall et al. (2000), “The Clay Speakership Revisited” (Polity 32, pp.
561-593)
* Wilson, Woodrow (1884), Congressional Government, ch. 2 & 4
II. Parties in Congress
Class 3: Theories of Political Parties (Sept. 21)
Required:
* Smith, Steven S. (2007), Party Influence in Congress, pp. 25-43, 114-147
Suggested:
* Aldrich, John (1995), Why Parties?
* Aldrich, John and David Rohde (2000), “The Consequences of Party
Organization in the House: The Role of Majority and Minority Parties in
Conditional Party Government,” from Bond and Fleisher eds., Polarized
Politics
* Cox, Gary and Mathew McCubbins (1993), Legislative Leviathan, ch. 5
* Cox, Gary and Mathew McCubbins (2005), Setting the Agenda (pp. 20-49, 201219)
* Krehbiel, Keith (1993), “Where’s The Party?”, British Journal of Political
Science 23 (pp. 235-266)
* Rohde, David M. (1991), Parties and Leaders in the Postreform House, ch. 1-2
* Schickler, Eric and Andrew Rich (1997), “Controlling the Floor: Parties as
Procedural Coalitions in the House”, American Journal of Political Science 41
(pp. 1340-1375)
Class 4: Party Tactics, Strategies, and Influence (Sept. 28)
Required:
* Smith, Party Influence in Congress, pp. 44-113
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Suggested:
* Green, Matthew (2002), “Institutional Change, Party Discipline, and the House
Democratic Caucus, 1911-1919” (Legislative Studies Quarterly 27, 601-633)
* Jones, C.O. (1970), The Minority Party in Congress
* Truman, David B. (1959), The Congressional Party
Class 5: Origins of Party Polarization (Oct. 5)
Required:
* Sinclair, Barbara (2006), Party Wars, ch. 1-3
Suggested:
* Brady, David and Pietro Nivola, eds., Red and Blue Nation?, vol. 1
* Fiorina, Morris (2004), Culture War? The Myth of of a Polarized America
* Masket, Seth E. (2009), No Middle Ground
* Theriault, Sean (2008), Party Polarization in Congress
** Oct. 12: Columbus Day (No Class) **
Class 6: Consequences of Party Polarization (Oct. 19)
Required:
* Sinclair, Party Wars, ch. 5, 6, and 10
Suggested:
* Binder, Sarah (2003), Stalemate: Causes and Consequences of Legislative
Gridlock
* Brady, David and Pietro Nivola, eds. (2008), Red and Blue Nation?, vol. 2
* Dodd, Lawrence and Scot Schraufnagel (2009), “Reconsidering Party
Polarization and Policy Productivity: A Curvilinear Perspective,” ch. 17 in
Dodd and Oppenheimer, eds., Congress Reconsidered, 9th ed.
* Mayhew, David (2005), Divided We Govern, 2nd ed.
III. Congressional Leadership
Class 7: Political Leadership (Oct. 26)
Required:
* Friedrich (1961), “Political Leadership and the Problem of the Charismatic
Power” (Journal of Politics 23, 3-24) [Blackboard]
* Burns, James McGregor (1978), Leadership, ch. 1 & 13 [Blackboard]
* Tucker (1995), Politics as Leadership (ch. 1) [Blackboard]
Suggested:
* Janda (1960), “Towards the Explication of the Concept of Leadership in Terms
of the Concept of Power” (Human Relations 13, 345-363).
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* Machiavelli, Nicolo (1515), The Prince, bks. 15-19, 21, 23-25.
* Plato, The Gorgias Dialogue
* Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War (Book 3, ch. 9 / para. 36-50 [Mitylene
debate])
* Weber, Max (1947), The Theory of Social and Economic Organization, ch. III,
parts 1-5.
** Oct. 26: DEADLINE FOR APPROVAL OF PAPER TOPIC (if writing final
paper) **
Class 8: Theories of Congressional Leadership (Nov. 2)
Required:
* Sinclair (1999), “Transformational Leader or Faithful Agent? Principal-Agent
Theory and House Majority Party Leadership,” Legislative Studies Quarterly
24 (pp. 421-449) [Blackboard]
* Green, Matthew N. (forthcoming), The Speaker of the House, ch. 1 & 3
(selections) [Blackboard]
Suggested:
A. Party/Partisan Agent Theories
* Cooper, Joseph and David Brady (1981), “Institutional Context and Leadership
Style: The House from Cannon to Rayburn,” American Political Science
Review 75 (pp. 411-425)
* Sinclair, Barbara (1995), Legislators, Leaders, and Lawmakers.
B. Theories of Personality
* Alexander, DeAlva Stanwood (1916), History and Procedure of the House of
Representatives
* Barber, James David (1972), The Presidential Character (ch. 1)
* Fuller, Hubert Bruce (1909), The Speakers of the House (pp. 32-58, 157-168)
* Greenstein, Fred (1986), “Personality and Politics,” from Kellerman, Political
Leadership: A Source Book
* Greenstein, Fred (2000), The Presidential Difference
* Hargrove, Erwin (1966), Presidential Leadership: Personality and Political
Style (pp. 1-9, 75-76, 142-153)
* Renshon (1998), A Psychological Assessment (part I)
C. Other Theoretical Approaches
* Jones (1968), “Joseph G. Cannon and Howard W. Smith: An Essay on the
Limits of Leadership in the House of Representatives,” Journal of Politics 30
(pp. 617-646) [Blackboard]
* Strahan, Randall (2007), Leading Representatives
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Class 9: Party Leader Selection (Nov. 9)
Required:
* Peabody, Robert L. (1967), “Party Leadership Change in the United States House
of Representatives,” American Political Science Review 61 (pp. 675-693)
[Blackboard]
* Green, Matthew (2008), “The 2006 Race for Democratic Majority Leader:
Money, Policy, and Personal Loyalty,” PS: Political Science & Politics 41:1
(pp. 63-67) [Blackboard]
Suggested:
* Harris, Douglas (2006), “Legislative Parties and Leadership Choice,” American
Politics Research 20
* Jacobs, John (1995), A Rage for Justice (ch. 11 & 14)
* Peabody, Robert L. (1976), Leadership in Congress: Stability, Succession, and
Change
Class 10: Tactics and Strategies of Party Leaders (Nov. 16)
Required:
* Riker, William H. (1986), The Art of Political Manipulation (preface, ch. 10, &
conclusion) [Blackboard]
* Evans, C. Lawrence and Walter Oleszek (1999), “The Strategic Context of
Congressional Party Leadership” (Congress and the Presidency 26, 1-20)
[Blackboard]
Suggested:
* Burden, Barry C. and Tammy M. Frisby (2002), “Preferences, Partisanship, and
Whip Activity in the U.S. House of Representatives,” Legislative Studies
Quarterly 25 (pp. 237-58)
* Evans, C. Lawrence and Claire Grandy (2008), “The Whip Systems of
Congress,” ch. 9 in Dodd and Oppenheimer, Congress Reconsidered (9th ed.)
* Froman, L. and R. Ripley (1965), “Conditions for Party Leadership: The Case
of the House Democrats,” American Political Science Review 59 (pp. 52-63)
* Harris, Douglas (2005), “House Majority Party Leaders’ Uses of Public Opinion
Information,” Congress and the Presidency 32
* House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (2004), Investigation of
Certain Allegations Related to Voting on the Medicare Prescription Drug,
Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003
* Jackson, Brooks (1991), Honest Graft (pp. 67-125)
* King, David C. and Richard Zeckhauser (2003), “Congressional Vote Options,”
Legislative Studies Quarterly 28 (pp. 387-411)
* Maraniss and Weisskopf (1995), “Speaker and His Directors Make the Cash
Flow Right” (Washington Post, November 27)
* Parsons, Talcott (1969), Politics and Social Structure (pp. 419-26)
* Powell, Eleanor Nuff (2008), “Reward and Punish: Career Advancement in the
U.S. Congress” (paper presented at 2008 APSA Annual Meeting; http://www.
people.fas.harvard.edu/~enpowell/Powell%20APSA%202008.pdf)
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Class 11: Leadership and Institutional Change (Nov. 23)
Required:
* Strahan, Randall (1990), “Reed and Rostenkowski: Congressional Leadership
in Institutional Time,” from Kornacki, Leading Congress: New Styles, New
Strategies [Blackboard]
* Schickler, Eric (2001), Disjointed Pluralism (pp. 3-18, 67-83, 168-74)
[Blackboard]
Suggested:
* Evans, C. Lawrence and Walter Oleszek (1997), Congress Under Fire (ch. 4)
[Blackboard]
* Strahan, Randall (2002), “Leadership and Institutional Change in the
Nineteenth-Century House,” from Brady and McCubbins, Party, Process, and
Political Change in Congress
Class 12: Leadership Case Studies (Nov. 30)
Required:
Read two of the following:
* Merry, Robert (1991), “Robert A. Taft,” in Baker and Davidson eds., First
Among Equals [Blackboard]
* Caro, Robert (2002), Lyndon Johnson, Master of the Senate (ch. 21, 24-26)
[Blackboard]
* Farrell, John (2001), Tip O’Neill and the Democratic Century (ch. 18, 20, & pp.
563-570) [Blackboard]
* Jacobs, John (1995), A Rage for Justice (ch. 15-16) [Blackboard]
Suggested:
* Allen (2004), “Putting Party First Wins Pelosi Loyalty – And Hopes of Victory”
(CQ Weekly Report, July 31)
* Balz and Babcock (1995), “How Newt Gingrich Climbed the Hill,” and Balz
and Kovaleski (1995), “Dividing the GOP, Conquering the Agenda”
(Washington Post, January)
* Carlson (1993), “The Life and Times of Boss Rosty” (Washington Post
Magazine, October 17)
* Caro, Robert (2002), Lyndon Johnson, Master of the Senate (esp. ch. 38-40)
* Cheney, Richard and Lynne Cheney (1996), Kings of the Hill
* Davidson, Roger et al. (1998), Masters of the House
* Hardeman, D.B. and Donald Bacon (1987), Rayburn: A Biography
* Patterson, James (1972), Mr. Republican: A Biography of Robert A. Taft
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IV. Future Prospects
Class 13: The Future of Parties and Leaders in Congress (Dec. 7)
Required:
* Pearson, Kathryn and Eric Schickler (2008), “The Transition to Democratic
Leadership in a Polarized House,” ch. 8 in Dodd and Oppenheimer, Congress
Reconsidered (9th ed.) [Blackboard]
** Monday, Dec. 14: FINAL EXAM (6:40 pm) or FINAL PAPER (due 4 pm) **
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