Question

Directions for Completing this Assignment Discuss: Congress is generally unpopular, whereas individual members are popular and usually reelected. Why does the institution (Congress) suffer while incumbents shine? Give some examples.

Answer 1

It can be said that Congress is generally unpopular, whereas individual members are popular and usually re-elected. The institution i.e. Congress suffer while incumbents shine. The reason behind this is highlighted as follows:

• When members are re-elected based on their popularity, their responsiveness towards committee varies and strength of Congress as a party is hindered. Because re-elected members are highly responsive towards their constituencies.
• Congress also promotes candidates that have maximum chances of re-election despite of the fact that there change in perspective might occur.
• Several collective action and coordination issues occur within Congress due to this sort of partnership.
• Conflict of interest between the institution i.e. Congress and incumbents occur.

Example: In case a member wins from a constituency that is particularly conservative, than a member of Congress can force its party to increase their spending on this constituency even if it was not considered in previous years.

Another example is that of Medicare Modernization Act.