Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Figures and Tables
- Preface
- Contributors
- Introduction
- Congress and Its Audience
- Congress at Play
- 5 Directing 535 Leading Men and Leading Ladies: Party Leadership in the Modern Congress
- 6 Little Theatre: Committees in Congress
- 7 The Unfolding Drama: Party and Ideology in the 104th House
- Congress and Other Actors
- Conclusion
- References
- Index
5 - Directing 535 Leading Men and Leading Ladies: Party Leadership in the Modern Congress
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 January 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Figures and Tables
- Preface
- Contributors
- Introduction
- Congress and Its Audience
- Congress at Play
- 5 Directing 535 Leading Men and Leading Ladies: Party Leadership in the Modern Congress
- 6 Little Theatre: Committees in Congress
- 7 The Unfolding Drama: Party and Ideology in the 104th House
- Congress and Other Actors
- Conclusion
- References
- Index
Summary
Successful movie, television, and theatre productions all require compelling scripts, gifted actors, talented set builders, and above all, expert directors. Directors provide the coordination and sense of purpose needed to transform a diverse group of individuals who work on different aspects of a project into a unified team in pursuit of a common goal. Congress is no different in its need for strong direction. In this era of independent-minded politicians, hyperactive lobbying groups, gavel-to-gavel media coverage, and hyperbolic and often rancorous debate, good direction is more important then ever for Congress to perform its duties. Good direction is also needed for congressional parties to mobilize public support for their policies and the reelection of their members. Most of this direction is provided by congressional party leaders. This chapter focuses on the challenges, strategies, and tactics that congressional party leaders use to try to direct their troupes and obtain favorable reviews from the press and the general public.
THE CAST OF CHARACTERS: MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Members of the House of Representatives are locally elected officials who make national policy. Members of the Senate have a similar job description even though they are elected in statewide elections and serve six-year instead of two-year terms. Candidate-centered elections have a major impact on the behavior of both legislators and leaders in Congress. They result in legislators being highly responsive to constituents and generally temper leaders' expectations that party members will toe the party line on major issues.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Great TheatreThe American Congress in the 1990s, pp. 109 - 134Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1998
- 1
- Cited by