Leadership development in Congress
To: The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress
From: Matthew N. Green, Catholic University, and Douglas Harris, Loyola University Maryland
Reform: Leadership development in Congress
Executive Summary
Both political parties in the U.S. House of Representatives follow several norms and informal practices that contribute to leadership development of party leaders, but otherwise lack a systematic means of recruiting and training new party leaders. This study details those norms and practices as they relate to party leadership preparation and training, leader candidate recruitment, and the selection of party leaders, reviewing how they contribute to party leadership development as well as their development-related disadvantages. It then outlines two possible changes to the House system that could promote effective recruitment and training of future party leaders in the House: alterations to the current nomination and selection process, and the adoption of a more formalized party leadership development program either within or outside the House.
| Topics: | Reform Efforts |