Informal Networks in Congress: Lobbying, Coalitions, and Bill Introductions

1. March 2, 2006 • Blair Williams on Informal Networks in Congress • Coalitions • A first look at lobbying • Introduction of bills

2. Informal Networks in Congress By Blair Williams

3. Where do we find Informal Networks in Play? • On the floor • During Roll Call Voting • In Committee and Subcommittee • Co-sponsoring Bills • Co-Introducing Bills • Issuing Joint Press Releases • Entering Supportive Statements into the Official Record

4. Where do we find Informal Networks in Play? • House Office Buildings • Office Location - Seniority is important • Cafeteria • Member's Only Elevator / Underground Tram • Home away from Home Phenomenon • CODELs (Congressional Delegations) • Official overseas travel • Long Air Travel, Spouses and Family members can occasionally attend

5. Members who have Traveled Together on more than 3 Trips

7. Members who have Traveled Together for more than 10 Days

9. Where do we find Informal Networks in Play? • Outside Locations • House Gym • Congressional Prayer Breakfast (every Tues) • Republican and Democrat Clubs • Apartment Locations • Annual Baseball and Golf Tournament • CMO's (Caucuses) • 308 Caucuses between 107th-109th Congress • Representative interests drive membership

10. Population Median Quartile Point Population Median Quartile Point 0.6 0.39 -0.35 -0.58 18 24 33 37

11. Members in More than 25 Caucuses Together

13. Caucus Observations • Democrats dominate Caucuses - Why? • Excluded from formal policymaking process • Republicans eschew organizations outside of the party • Leadership • Discipline • Democrats represent groups that traditionally lack outside commercial interests, as a result, caucuses serves a means for these groups to have access to government.

14. Questions?

15. “Congressional Vote Options”-David King & Richard Zeckhauser

16. Vote Options • “Hip pocket” votes, “if you need me” pledges • Result of using vote options: victories narrower than losses • Excess votes are not bought • Votes not bought for losing efforts • Reason for options: uncertainty

17. Options: United v. Divided Govt. • United Government • President wins votes 2/3 of time • Victories by slimmer margins than losses • Divided Government • Speaker mobilizes against President • Speaker wins 70% of the time • As in United Government, Victories are by slimmer margins than losses

18. Conclusions • Legislators “strategically wait” to cast votes • Vote options likely to be exercised when outcome is close to 50% • Narrow wins more frequent than narrow losses • If vote is not close enough, votes are released by leaders

19. Outside the swinging doors