Introduction

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is the campaign committee for House Republicans and, like the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), focuses on gaining or retaining majority status, primarily through fundraising. Ideological differences aside, Speaker Pelosi and the freshman Democrats share the goals of wanting to win elections and retain majority status-aspirations that explain their willingness to engage in financial and procedural protectionist strategies. This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book presents a theory of the relationship between House members and the congressional party organizations. It examines how the 1970s House reforms helped to create a political environment that fostered the growth of member-to-member giving. The book examines the House Republicans' rise to power in the early 1990s and the party's twelve years in the majority. It looks at the new Democratic majority and examines the party's attempts to advance the redistribution of campaign money.