Heimlich's History: Factors Affecting Congressional Effectiveness

Overview

• Focus on how congressional behavior is influenced by:
  • Election processes
  • Partisanship
  • Divided government

Key Mechanisms of Congressional Functioning

• Previous videos covered leadership structures and enumerated powers.
• Current focus: Real-world factors impacting lawmaking.

Factors Affecting Congressional Effectiveness

1. Ideological Division

• Increase in polarization over 30 years:
  • Republicans more conservative.
  • Democrats more liberal.
• Effects:
  • Difficulty in negotiation and compromise.
  • Leads to policy gridlock and partisan fighting.
  • Single-party majority in both houses facilitates faster lawmaking.
  • Example: FDR’s New Deal, Obama's health care plan.

2. Divided Government

• Occurs when:
  • Opposing parties hold majorities in each house.
  • President is from a different party than congressional majority.
• Results in slowed processes.
• Example:
  • 2016: Obama unable to appoint Supreme Court justice due to Republican Senate.
  • 2020: Trump successfully appointed a justice during an election year with Republican Senate.

3. Models of Representation

• Delegate Model: Representatives vote according to constituents’ will.
  • Common in the House due to frequent elections.
• Trustee Model: Representatives vote according to personal judgment.
  • Example: Mitt Romney's vote during Trump’s impeachment.
• Politico Model: Hybrid approach, acting as delegate when clear constituent opinion exists, otherwise as trustee.

4. Redistricting

• Happens every 10 years based on census data.
• Importance:
  • Ensures equal population representation.
  • Can lead to contention if not done properly.

Supreme Court Case: Baker vs. Carr (1962)

• Issue: Improper redistricting in Tennessee favored rural voters.
• Outcome: Established one-person, one-vote principle.

Gerrymandering

• Drawing districts to favor one party or group.

Partisan Gerrymandering

• Example: Districts drawn to favor Republicans or Democrats disproportionately.

Racial Gerrymandering

• Case: Shaw vs. Reno
  • Issue: North Carolina districts drawn to create majority black districts.
  • Court ruled drawing based solely on race is unconstitutional as it could disenfranchise minorities.

Conclusion

• Congressional effectiveness influenced by:
  • Ideological division.
  • Representation models (trustee, delegate, politico).
  • Redistricting and gerrymandering.