Intraparty organizations’ electoral coordination and party leader retribution
The dynamics in Congress today increasingly reference intraparty organizations like the House Freedom Caucus (HFC) or the New Democrat Coalition. Groups like these, which have existed since at least the… Read More
The liberal Democratic origins of the conservative House Freedom Caucus
Perhaps no group better epitomizes what James Madison described as the “mischiefs of faction” in the 21st century than the House Freedom Caucus (HFC). Madison defines a faction as “a number of citizens,… Read More
Learning about legislative learning: Congressional hearings, organizational expertise, and the environmental movement
In January, we published an article, “Greening the Congressional record: environmental social movements and expertise-based access to the policy process,” in Environmental Politics. The impetus for the project was our… Read More
The good, the bad, and the ugly: House committee authorizations edition
Follow the money. The cliche is typically employed by investigators looking to break a case. But the saying applies to Congress, as well. In order… Read More
You can take a congressperson outta Washington …
Last week the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress held its first hearing. One of its tasks is to recommend ways to reform congressional procedures. Congressman Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.),… Read More
Common myths about the House Freedom Caucus
Since it was formed in early 2015, the House Freedom Caucus has made headlines for blocking bills in Congress, helping remove an incumbent Speaker of the House, and otherwise making… Read More
How the political parties leaned on legislative leaders for cash during the 115th Congress
One of the open secrets in Washington is that the Democratic and Republican parties both lean on their most powerful legislators to raise extraordinary amounts of campaign cash, often under… Read More
How House committees get their money
Committee funding in the House of Representatives is accomplished through a somewhat quirky process. Appropriators in the House Legislative Branch Appropriations Committee set a top dollar amount for the committees… Read More
Trump’s shutdown tactics borrow from the Freedom Caucus
When President Donald Trump declared last month that he was willing to risk a partial government shutdown to secure funding for a wall on the southern US border, most… Read More
Pelosi’s revenge?
The Hill was abuzz on Wednesday with news that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had “exacted revenge” on one of her most vocal detractors, Rep. Katherine Rice (D-NY). A former… Read More