Intra-Party Factions and Legislative Rules in the House of Representatives.

This paper examines how intense policy minorities within the majority party in the House of Representatives affect House procedure, particularly the rules placed on legislation. Existing theories suggest that when an intense policy minority within the majority party exist party leaders will alter procedures and rules to benefit the intense minority instead of the party median. We apply the first empirical test of this theory by looking at legislation supported by the Congressional Black Caucus and the Blue Dog Democrats in the 111th session of the House of Representatives, as well as legislation from the Tea Party Caucus in the 112th session. Results suggest that majority party leaders do indeed allow special rules to deviate to the intense minority, on issues pursued by the intense minority, as long at the issues are not salient to the full caucus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]