TOPIC: The Legislative Effectiveness of the Congressional Black Caucus.
HYPOTHESIS: It Is hypothesized that the effectiveness of CBC is limited because it is perceived as a manifestation of interest group politics, as opposed to a competing political elite.
THEORY: This examination is based in elite plural political theory. The elite pluralist model recognizes the presence in society of elites, and posits that classical democracy, as that ideal is embraced in the concept of pluralism, does not exist. The elite pluralist model, however, holds that democratic values are preserved through a system of multiple, competing elites. Within the concept of the elite pluralist model, competing elites determine public policy through bargaining and compromise, while the voting rights of the masses enable new elites to gain a share of the power within the social and political systems. Elite theory holds that an elite is comprised of a relatively few people within a society who have and exercise power within that social system. By contrast, the masses are the many people who cannot wield power within a social system.
CONCEPTS: A concept that is relevant to an examination of the effectiveness of the CBC is the Self Interest Model. The self interest model posits that particular legislation and policy may be supported by an array of different groups and individuals, but that each of these groups is motivated by its own self interests related to the legislation or policy.
II. THE NUMERICAL STRENGTH OF THE CBC
IV. LEGISLATIVE CONCERNS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS
3. Business opportunities for Black Americans
4. Investment in predominantly Black American communities
This s...