Underdog Politics: The Minority Party in the U.S. House of RepresentativesIn this comprehensive analysis, political scholar Matthew N. Green disputes the widely held belief that the minority party in the U.S. House of Representatives wields little or no legislative influence. Green has examined the record of House minority party members from 1970 to the present and offers empirical evidence of their important role in passing or blocking controversial legislation, often through active floor protests, press conferences, obstructionism, and other means. The author explores such spheres of minority influence as fundraising, candidate recruitment, and the shaping of public policy through well-orchestrated campaigns. In addition to analyzing minority party voting behavior on key floor votes and procedural motions, Green supports his findings through information gleaned from a wide variety of original data, including documents and memos from congressional archives, media accounts, and personal interviews with current and former lawmakers and their staff. The result is the first systematic analysis of what the House minority party can do and why it does it, offering a clear and insightful picture of the inner workings of this famously contentious chamber of Congress. |
Contents
one The Politics of the Minority Party | 1 |
two Electioneering | 34 |
four Obstructing | 113 |
six The Minority Party and American Politics | 179 |
Notes | 191 |
Bibliography | 237 |
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activity adjourn agenda amendments American August become bill campaign candidates chamber collective committee common concerns conferences Congress congressional considered create critical DCCC debate delay Democrats develop difference districts early effect election electoral especially event example explained Figure final floor followed force Gephardt Gerald Ford Gingrich give goal House Republicans important incumbents individual influence instance interview with former issues John later lawmakers leadership aide least legislative less limit majority matters measure messaging Minority Leader minority party minority’s motion to recommit motions noted NRCC obstruction offer one-minute speeches opportunities opposition partisan party leaders party members party’s pass petitions political president presidential procedural proposals raise Record reporters Representatives Republicans Robert rules seats Senate September Smith sometimes speeches spending strategy Table tactics tion unity vote voters whip White House