How do the rules of specialization and reciprocity support the power of committees in Congress?

What will be an ideal response?


The ideal answer should include:
1. Specialization and reciprocity are two informal rules that support the power of committees in Congress.
2. Specialization means that once assigned to a committee or subcommittee, a member of Congress is expected to specialize in its work and become an expert in that area. The result is that committees and their individual members become experts in their own work but may not know much about other areas.
3. This potential problem is resolved through the practice of reciprocity, in which members look for guidance in voting on an issue outside their committee to members of committees that do specialize in it.
4. As a result, both of these rules increase the power of committees, which not only provide expertise, but also influence voting behavior of those outside specific committees.

Political Science

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Common Cause, an organization that pushes for openness and fairness in government, is an example of a(n) __________ group

Answer:

Political Science

Evaluate whether efforts to curb air pollutionshould rely on command-and-control policy or incentive systems

What will be an ideal response?

Political Science

The Democrats dominated politics in Texas for approximately 100 years, from the 1870s through the 1970s

Indicate whether this statement is true or false.

Political Science

Which of the following institutions generally leads to higher voter turnout?

a. Shorter polling hours b. Mandatory absentee ballots c. Free "I Voted" stickers at the polls d. Election day voter registration

Political Science