ABSTRACT
Members of Congress must not only seek to achieve their legislative goals—constituency service, policy, and power—within an institution that committees and formal rules define but also must adapt their behavior to informal norms that specify the ways things should be done in the assembly. If folkways constrain members, so also may their involvement with a variety of informal groups and organizations. Just as they must determine how to relate to committees and formal procedures, members must decide on orientations toward informal norms and organizations. Folkways are only one set of informal rules that affect the legislative system. Another influential set emanates from informal organizations—unofficial caucuses, noted in the rules of Congress as legislative service organizations (LSOs) but not part of the formal legislative decision-making process—that may act to supplement or to compete with the major congressional structures. Moreover, active and unified informal organizations may enhance the bargaining power of a bloc.
