Who Benefits from the Party Organization? Evidence from Republican House Members' Attendance at Caucus Meetings

Bibliographic Data

ID7329623
AuthorsAdam M Dynes (0000-0002-9153-5726, Brigham Young University), Andrew Reeve (0000-0001-7217-6601, Washington University in St. Louis), Andrew Reeves (0000-0002-3728-6757, Washington University in St. Louis)
Year2017
Volume43
Issue2
Pages207-243
Publication date2017-11-30
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLegislative Studies Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0362-9805 • E-ISSN: 1939-9162
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/lsq.12193
OpenAlexW2774074772
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited29

As the role of US congressional parties in the legislative process has increased, so has the importance of understanding the institutions within these organizations. In this article, we examine the weekly caucus meetings held by Republican House leaders with their rank‐and‐file. We consider how members’ characteristics relate to their decision to attend based on the collective and private benefits that caucus participation affords. Using interviews of members and staffers as well as members’ attendance records at these meetings from 2007 to 2013, we find, among other things, that members who vote less with their party or who have more seniority are less likely to attend while those in leadership positions or who are electorally vulnerable are more likely to do so. Together, these findings provide additional insights on the relationship between party leaders and their members and which members benefit from this central party‐building activity

Attendance · Caucus · Legislative process · Legislature · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Seniority · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Law · Media Influence and Politics · Political Influence and Corporate Strategies · Public Administration

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