02/07/22 Dirksen: Party Leadership 1 Party Leadership and Collective Action: A View from Inside the 111 th Congress
Mar 26, 2015
04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 1
Party Leadership and Collective Action: A View from Inside the 111th Congress
04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 2
House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (SC-06)
Role of Whip We strive for wins, not unanimity
04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 3
House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (SC-06)
With historic 111th Congress, the Majority Whip possessed new policy clout.
House Leadership & the Obama Administration
04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 4
Office of the House Majority WhipH-329 The Capitol
Earn trust/Access/Piece of History Experience in Policy Shop Treat everyone’s priority as your own
04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 5
Party Leadership for Collective Action
MC universal goals (reelection, policy, power) Garner sufficient votes back home Achieve policy
House Democratic Caucus 256 members with different constituencies, unique reelection
circumstances, quite varied policy preferences Many factions: Blue Dogs, Asian Pacific, Black Caucus,
Hispanic, Progressives, New Democrats Each policy presents unique challenge
04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 6
Party Leadership for Collective Action
What strategies can leaders employ to “prod” members to contribute/behave in ways to produce collective goods for party while helping members to achieve individual goals?
Maintain majority party status Party reputation=Good government Pragmatic policy solving social & economic problems
04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 7
Party Leadership for Collective Action
Constant reelection concern. “Our prospects as a party are tied to this president, if this bill goes down we all go down”.
Psychology of Action Historic Window of Opportunity
04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 8
Party Leadership for Collective Action
Achieving Collective Goals of Party
Leadership structure Individual political skills Leadership staff Centrality of information Trust and relationships
04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 9
Party Leadership for Collective Action
Achieving Collective Party Goals
“The 3 Ps”
Controlling the Agenda
Rules and procedures Centrality of Rules Committee
04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 10
Party Leadership for Collective Action
Achieving Collective Party Goals
Carrots and sticks
“Get more with honey”
Putting the whip on Reduce uncertainty on the floor The Whip Process
04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 11
Party Leadership for Collective Action
Leadership Premium