Controlling the Floor: Parties as Procedural Coalitions in the House

Theory: Partisan control of House organization is contested by ideological cross-party coalitions that vary in strength with the size of the majority party and its homogeneity, as well as the nature of the issues under consideration. Hypotheses: Key House rules are responsive to changes in the balance of power on the floor, even in the face of majority party opposition. Majority party defectors on votes on key rules are unlikely to be sanctioned unless the party has a strong majority and is relatively unified. Methods: An analysis of rules changes since 1919 pertaining to the discharge process, Rules Committee, and committee jurisdictions, and of the conditions under which majority party members are sanctioned for disloyal behavior. Results: The development since the mid-1970s of majority party control over House rules is a substantial departure from prior experience, and appears to be a precarious state of affairs.