read some stuff for Rich

1 files changed, 41 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/rich/10_electoral_connection b/rich/10_electoral_connection
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e12505a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rich/10_electoral_connection
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+"Congress: The Electoral Connection" by David R Mayhew
+
+The Congressman's primary goal is to get reelected.
+Their "electoral needs" are serviced well by the structural institutions
+of Congress:
+- There is very little zero-sum conflict in Congress, so congressmen can
+  make headway for their constituents' issues without infringement
+- Congressional offices provide a useful base of operations for campaign
+  management and for developing platform/research. Staffed evenly.
+- Committees act severally
+    - Position-taking committees: let congressmen claim platform
+        - House Un-American Activities Committee
+        - House Education and Labor Committees
+        - Foreign Policy Committee
+    - Particularized benefits:
+        - Diffuse cost, concentrated benefits (taxes -> farm, e.g.)
+        - Usually universalist: everyone gets their share of spending on
+          urban renewal, or tax cuts, or public works
+    - Divide up labor and allow credit-claiming:
+        - "I put that bill through committee"
+        - "That was my amendment."
+        - Also allows speaking on the floor based on bills
+- Parties
+    - Fluid bodies that help with bloc-making.
+    - Party leaders are brokerers and agenda-setters
+    - But individual congressmen "vote their constituencies."
+
+Edmunk Burke's Speech to the Electors of Bristol
+
+He wasn't elected by the people, instead by his friends in the
+government, since the people don't have a vote and power flows from the
+crown.
+But he does feel responsible to the people in a half-related sense.
+He will deeply consider their issues and consider their opinions with
+weight, but he will exercise his own judgment for he believes the
+parliament is a body of deliberation, not inclination.
+
+Burke also believes that national weal takes a front seat to local
+interests, so he is also disconnected from his voters in that way.
+
+The American system somewhat models this, but is now more direct.