04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 1

Party Leadership and Collective Action: A View from Inside the 111th Congress

04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 2

House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (SC-06)

Role of Whip We strive for wins, not unanimity

04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 3

House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (SC-06)

With historic 111th Congress, the Majority Whip possessed new policy clout.

House Leadership & the Obama Administration

04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 4

Office of the House Majority WhipH-329 The Capitol

Earn trust/Access/Piece of History Experience in Policy Shop Treat everyone’s priority as your own

04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 5

Party Leadership for Collective Action

MC universal goals (reelection, policy, power) Garner sufficient votes back home Achieve policy

House Democratic Caucus 256 members with different constituencies, unique reelection

circumstances, quite varied policy preferences Many factions: Blue Dogs, Asian Pacific, Black Caucus,

Hispanic, Progressives, New Democrats Each policy presents unique challenge

04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 6

Party Leadership for Collective Action

What strategies can leaders employ to “prod” members to contribute/behave in ways to produce collective goods for party while helping members to achieve individual goals?

Maintain majority party status Party reputation=Good government Pragmatic policy solving social & economic problems

04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 7

Party Leadership for Collective Action

Constant reelection concern. “Our prospects as a party are tied to this president, if this bill goes down we all go down”.

Psychology of Action Historic Window of Opportunity

04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 8

Party Leadership for Collective Action

Achieving Collective Goals of Party

Leadership structure Individual political skills Leadership staff Centrality of information Trust and relationships

04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 9

Party Leadership for Collective Action

Achieving Collective Party Goals

“The 3 Ps”

Controlling the Agenda

Rules and procedures Centrality of Rules Committee

04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 10

Party Leadership for Collective Action

Achieving Collective Party Goals

Carrots and sticks

“Get more with honey”

Putting the whip on Reduce uncertainty on the floor The Whip Process

04/10/23 Dirksen: Party Leadership 11

Party Leadership for Collective Action

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