Ruth Bloch Rubin, University of Chicago

October 12, 2021  

  • Video
  • 0:14– Background
  • 1:01-Research Interests
  • 2:00 – Overview of Bloch Rubin’s book
  • 5:56 – What types of organizations are in the chamber of Congress?
  • 9:43– Rules within intraparty organizations
  • 13:23– What is the consequence if a member does not vote in way the group wants?
  • 15:28 – How does leadership form in these organizations?
  • 17:26 – What kind of resources do these organizations get?
  • 20:30 – How divergent are intraparty groups from party lines?
  • 24:18 – What are the goals of intraparty groups based on particular issues?
  • 27:10 – What is the dynamic of these organizations in regards to leadership power?
  • 29:52 – What is the relationship between intraparty organizations and committees? Differences between them?
  • 32:39– Role of Intraparty groups in committee member selections
  • 35:33– What are the attributes of a member that come into play?
  • 38:46 – Research questions regarding leadership
  • 41:38– How does leadership making relationships with these organizations affect legislative effectiveness?
  • 43:34– How does the whip organization factor in with these organizations?
  • 45:38– Transparency in Congress
  • 49:22– What would happen if the Speaker of the House was not a member of Congress? How would it affect the relationships of intraparty groups?
  • 51:40– How do you see rules in Congress affecting these other organizations?
  • 55:21– Do you think that there are rules that would have a positive impact?
  • 58:45 – Politics being a zero sum gain
    [Lightning Round]
  • 1:00:47– What do you think congressional representation should mean?
  • 1:05:05– How would your ideal Congress allocate its time?
  • 1:09:33– How should debate, deliberation, or dialogue occur or be structured in Congress?
  • 1:11:07 – What fundamental institutional improvement should Congress make within the next 50 years
  • 1:12:52– What book or article most shaped your thinking with respect to congressional reform?
  • 1:13:58– Long term plans

Be sure to check out the podcast version of this interview.

Rubin-Transcript