Step 3: "Though shall not aid bills that will split thy party"
A MC doesn't always have to support
everything his party does.
However, for the Cartel it is
WORSE if you push legislation that hurts your
party rather than block legislation that
your party does like.
Step 2: Cartel Gives Posts to Members
Block Legislation aka
Negative Agenda Power
Ability to block bills from reaching a final
passage vote on the floor.
Sometimes called "veto rights"
PUSHING LEGISLATION AKA
POSITIVE AGENDA POWER
See page 174
This refers to the "ability to push bills through the legislative process to a final-passage vote on the floor"
The Cartel ensures that its members get all,
or nearly all, of the agenda setting offices.
ROLL
The Cartel will be upset if you push a bill
that will pass, despite resistance from your own party.
This is called a roll.
Step 4: Rank and File
fall in line
The Cartel expects that the
rank-and-file members
will fall in line
with decisions made in
Step 3
What about the interests of Congressman Joe Rank and File?
He might be thinking about the constituency back home
But, if anything, voters are only paying attention to the Floor Vote of the Bill.
So Joe can do other things, unrelated to the final Floor Vote, that may go unnoticed by his constituents.
What counts as "special agenda setting" power?
"Having the special ability to determine which bills are considered on the floor and under what procedures" (179)
The Procedural Cartel
Step 1
Special Agenda Setting Powers
The Cartel finds itself with
offices that come with
special agenda-setting
powers.
Cox and McCubbins
As Cartel becomes more homogeneous, Cartel can now actively push legislation
Homogeneity of Preferences
Homogeneous Preferences in the Cartel
Brings Ice Cream for All
The Cartel leadership works to ensure cooperation and coordination within the Cartel itself.
Step 5: Cooperation and Coordination
within the Cartel itself
If Cartel is heterogeneous, Cartel cannot do too much
Heterogeneity of preferences