party systems

• what is there a threat of during elections?

  removing party support
• can the speaker influence the chairs and assignments on committees?

  yes
• has party discipline traditionally been strong or weak?

  weak
• what are the purposes of CMOs

  educational - provide info to members about legislation

  agenda setting - work together to boost their chances of getting their issue on the legislative agenda

  support - encouraging support for their proposals in votes
• what is a weakness of CMOs

  they have no real authority
• what is an interest group caucus?

  members with a shares policy or interest - could be medical issues etc
• what is a national constituency caucus?

  advocate for the interests of specific groups of constituents
• what is an ideological caucus?

  represents the ideological views within a particular party
• what are the three types of CMOs?

  ideological, national constituency caucuses and interest group caucuses
• has the number of CMOs increased or decreased?

  increased to 460 from 100 in 1993
• what is a Congressional Member Organisation (CMO)

  an association of members of congress to advance a certain interest
• why do caucuses meet?

  they meet regularly and in private for both chambers to set legislative agendas, select committee members and chairs and hold elections for floor leaders
• what is a congressional caucus?

  the collection of members of either party