factors affecting voting behaviours

• parties

  The two major parties in Congress are the Democrats and the Republicans, influencing how their members vote.

  • Party-line voting (voting according to party wishes) has increased since the 1970s.
  • Congresspeople now vote along party lines about 90% of the time.
  • The Democrats and Republicans have become increasingly partisan, with little middle ground between their policies.
  • There is little cooperation between the two parties.
• Cacuses

  • Caucuses, also known as Congressional Member Organizations, are groups of representatives that meet to decide on legislation to support
  • Caucuses form around similar ideologies, policy ideas, or social factors (e.g., race, ethnicity)
  • The House Freedom Caucus is aligned with the Tea Party Movement and advocates for smaller government.
  • The Congressional Black Caucus consists of African-American members.
• constituency

  • Members of the House are elected every two years and must represent their constituents to avoid defeat.
  • During Congressional recesses, representatives visit their states or districts to gather opinions and understand issues.
  • Constituents can call, email, or write letters to their representatives during important votes, influencing the policymaking process.
• presuure groups

  • Pressure groups are organizations that aim to influence decision-makers in Congress to propose or vote for specific policies.
  • They can affect campaigns and appointments by spending money on advertising and political campaigns.
  • Example: The US Chamber of Commerce campaigned for the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
• how pressure groups endorse their candidates

  • Pressure groups can endorse candidates and encourage supporters to vote for them.
  • Example: The NRA gives election candidates a ‘grade’ to indicate how pro-gun they are.
  • They fund lobbyists to influence decision-makers in Congress.
  • Pressure groups can also educate the public and generate publicity for issues.
• lobbyists

  • A lobbyist is paid by a client to contact multiple elected officials and spends at least 20% of their time lobbying.
  • The client can be an individual, organization, or corporation seeking favorable policies.
  • Industries, unions, and companies hire lobbyists.
  • Corporations spend around $2.6 billion annually on lobbying, more than public-interest groups and labor unions.
• types of lobbyists

  • Direct lobbying: Lobbyists meet with Congress members and staff to argue for favorable policies for their clients.
  • Indirect lobbying: Lobbyists help fundraise, hold dinners, and parties to network with decision-makers and corporations.
  • Grassroots lobbying: Smaller groups use methods like writing opinion articles in newspapers to attract decision-makers' attention.
• lobbying is influential

  • The influence of lobbyists has increased, making Congresspeople more aware of industry, company, or union issues, which can affect their voting behavior.
  • Lobbying provides access to decision-makers and can result in favorable policies.
  • Example: Northrop Grumman spent $176m on lobbying and was awarded a NATO contract to build drones in 2012.
• examples of lobbyists

  • The US Chamber of Commerce.
  • The American Medical Association.
  • General Electric.