The Locus of U. S. Congressional Power: a Congressional Studies Review

美國國會權力重心所在：國會研究的檢視

陳恆鈞(Hen-Chin Chen)

《中國行政評論》 7卷1期 (1997/12) Pp. 159-180

https://doi.org/10.6635/cpar.1997.7(1).05

摘要

以往的國會研究均強調協調委員會的重要性，因其主要功能是協調解決兩院的歧見。但是最近的研究將其重點置於委員會本身，因其對於政策有實質的影響力。依照此種看法，協調會中的主要衝突將發生於常設委員會的委員與議會中全體議會議員之間。本文運用國會研究的三種方法論（形式理論、分配理論、資訊理論）來進一步探討國會的權力重心所在。簡言之，形式理論依其設計與定義是非常簡潔與符合邏輯，但問題在於其內部結構以致經不起經驗現象的驗證。分配理論則強調國會結構，尤其是委員會體系。此外亦探討結構因素與議員決策行為間的關係。然而此理論忽略了委員會對於法案的決定並不具有最終決定性的影響力。資訊理論則強調議會內多數黨的影響力。整體觀之資訊理論並未完全發展成形。有鑑於此，雖然三種方法論各自擁有基本的假設，卻沒有一種方法論可駕馭整個國會研究領域。其癥結乃是依其假設所成立的理論與實際可觀察的現象有甚多的不符合。

關鍵字

委員會 ； 形式理論 ； 分配理論 ； 資訊理論

並列摘要

Previously, congressional studies emphasized the importance of conference compromises in terms of conflict between the House and Senate. However, recent research puts emphasis on the conference committees per se, since they have a substantial impact on policy. In this view, the main conflict in conference becomes between standing committees and their parent bodies. By applying three methodology (formal theory, information theory and distribution theory), this paper further clarifies the really locus of congressional power. Briefly, by designing and definition, the formal theory is parsimonious and logical. Yet, the root problem lies in the inner structure, therefore it is unable to stand empirical test. This causes serious doubts about its validity as a method of Congressional study. Distributional theory focuses on the structure of Congress, especially the committee system, and examines the relationship between the structural factors and the legislators' decisional behavior. However, this theory neglect the fact that committees are not overwhelmingly influential on legislative outcome in the penultimate stage. Furthermore, although Informational theory stresses that the floor majority controls the composition of a committee to guarantee effective informational services, the theory is yet to be well developed. Although each methodology has its own valuable assumptions, none of these approaches dominates the research field today. The main reason is numerous discrepancies exist between theory and observation, resulting from the assumptions employed by different methodology.

並列關鍵字

Committee ； Formal Theory ； Distributional Theory ； Informational Theory