The Organizational Life of the Congressional Parties
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15763/issn.2374-7781.1993.14.0.39-70Abstract
The organizational life of the congressional parties is elucidated by using elite interviews with 65 congressional party leaders and staff to elaborate and explicate the organization and leadership, internal linkages, and activities such as information exchange, agenda management, issue coordination, publicity, recruitment, and campaign assistance. It is concluded that the recent emergence of more substantial congressional party organizations contributes to legislative party cohesion by providing a common information base, more opportunity for participation in the development of party positions and strategies, and more interaction that forewarns of intraparty divisiveness.References
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