Explain the role of the parties in Congress. How does party leadership differ between the two chambers and why? Explain recent trends in party leadership strength over time as well as the reasons for changing strength.
Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).
Students should highlight the important role of party leadership in organizing both institutions. Although both parties and committees play key organizational roles in Congress, party leadership centralizes power, whereas the committee system tends to decentralize power. Party leadership tends to be more powerful in the House of Representatives because of the size of the institution and the influence the Speaker of the House places on the Rules Committee, which may limit the ability of members to debate and offer amendments to bills. With no such limits in the Senate and because of its smaller membership and more individualistic nature, the Senate majority leader does not enjoy as much control (though he or she can control scheduling of legislation). Recently, party leadership control over the House has increased, with its high point coming under Speaker Newt Gingrich after Republicans gained control of Congress in 1995. Before then, Speakers did not enjoy as much power because of resistance to the “boss rule” of Speaker Joe Cannon.
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