The Congressional Power Index
HOW TO USE THIS TABLE: To get a rough approximation of a Congress member's influence, use the table below to compile a rating. The higher the number, the more influential the member. You may not be able to determine the measurement factor in all cases, but the index can be useful even if only partially completed.
FACTOR
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INDEX
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1. Is of the majority party in the chamber.
If "yes," rates a 3. If member is of the minority party, rates a -3. If Independent, score a 0. |
-3 0 3
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2. Holds formal elected party leadership post in the House or Senate.
Speaker of the House and Majority Leader of the Senate = 5 Minority Leader, Assistant Majority Leader = 4 Majority Whip, Assistant Minority Leader, Minorty Whip = 3 Assistant Whips, Republican or Democratic Conference Chair = 2 Rep./Dem. Conference Secretary, Rep/Dem Policy Chair = 1 |
0 1 2 3 4 5
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3. Chairs (or is ranking member of) a "money" committee.
Committee chair rates a 5, ranking member a 3. House "money" committees: Appropriations, Budget, and Ways and Means Senate "money" committees: Appropriations and Finance |
0 3 5
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4. Chairs (or is ranking member of) another committee.
Chair rates a 4, ranking member a 2. |
0 2 4
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5. Chairs (or is ranking member) a subcommittee.
Chair rates a 3, ranking member a 1. |
0 1 3
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6. Is a member of one of the following committees (rates a 3 for each)
House: Appropriations, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Rules, or Ways and Means Senate: Appropriations, Armed Services, Budget, Finance, Judiciary |
0 3
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7. Seniority.
0-2 terms rates a 0, then in two-term increments up the scale, that is 4 terms rates a 1, six terms rates a 2, etc. |
0 1 2 3 4 5
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8. Margin of victory in last election.
Greater than 60 percent is highest rank at 3 59-60 rates a 2 56-58 rates a 1 53-55 rates a 0 50-52 rates a -1 less than 50 percent rates a -2 |
-2 -1 0 1 2 3
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9. Amount of campaign funds on hand.
Amounts depend on individual situation, such as competitiveness of the district. Lacking such information, less than $100,000 = -5 $100,000 - $199,999 = -4 $200,000 - $299,999 rates -3 $300,00 - $399,999 rates -2 $400,000 - $499,999 rates -1 $500,000 - $599,999 rates 0 $600,000 - $699,999 rates 1 $700,000 - $799,999 rates 2 $800,000 - $899,999 rates 3 $900,000 - $999,999 rates 4 $1,000,000 and over rates 5 |
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
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10. Exposure in national press.
Washington Post Onlines Search for one week (1 point for every 4 hits with 5 points the maximum) or New York Times Online Search for one month (1 point for every 4 hits with 5 points the maximum) or CNN.com search (cnn.com only) (1 point for every 30 hits with 5 points the maximum). |
0 1 2 3 4 5
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11. Party Support (Voting Record) OPTIONAL: It may not be possible to locate this information online. Congressional Quarterly, a subscription service, publishes such information periodically.
If this member voted with her/his political party 95% of the time or more = 5 90-94 = 4 85-89 = 3 80-84 = 2 75-79 = 1 70-74 = 0 65-69 = -1 60-64 = -2 55-59 = -3 50-54 = -4 49% and below = -5 |
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
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12. Support of the President OPTIONAL: It may not be possible to locate this information online. Congressional Quarterly, a subscription service, publishes such information periodically.
If this member is of the SAME party as the President and voted with the President's position 95% of the time or more = 5 90-94 = 4 85-89 = 3 80-84 = 2 75-79 = 1 70-74 = 0 65-69 = -1 60-64 = -2 55-59 = -3 50-54 = -4 49% and below = -5 IF this member is of the OPPOSITE party, reverse the scoring |
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
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