Post Summary: An explanation of the data elements used to describe a chamber's factions for a particular Congress.
"What am I looking at?" You are looking at data related to the formation of factions at different levels of pair-wise agreement ("affinity") of all the members of a particular chamber with significant participation of a particular session of Congress. We'll use the meeting of the House of Representatives for the 30th Congress as an example.
The first line is a summary of the post, indicating the session of Congress and the chamber of interest. Embedded is a link to some history of that chamber's session.
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Post Summary: Factions of the 30th Congress, House of Representatives
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Next is a quote related to the effect of factions on popular government.
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Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency.
-Federalist 10 (James Madison)
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Next is a listing of the factions present for a particular interval of agreement, called the "affinity." Each pair of members of the chamber agreed with each other to a certain percentage of the votes. Members who did not participate in a significant way (at least 65% of the votes taken where either Yea or Nay, or the equivalent) were removed, along with their pairings. For the remaining pairs, if a particular pair agrees with each other within the specified affinity range, their are a member of a faction. A faction is a group of members, each of which agreed with at least one other member of the faction within the affinity range. (A stronger definition would have each member agree with every member within the range, but we don't use that here.) This type of analysis is basically a less formal version of the social networking technique that analyzes F-groups.
Unfortunately, the graphic representation of these factions came up short, mostly due to the factions being so large in recent Congresses, especially in the House of Representatives. In the regular posts a limited amount of graphical representative of factions (and their opposite) are in the "green" and "red" images should those groups with the highest (or lowest) affinity.
Since The Majority Line has taken the radical non-partisan stance of leaving out the display of any party affiliation, it is the faction that becomes central to understanding the political dynamics of the legislative branch. In general, we will display either 3 or 4 ranges of affinity in order to get a sense of how the factions grow as we lower the range of expected agreement. Of note is that, by using narrow ranges of agreement, a member that only agrees with other members at either a very high or low level will not show up at the lower ranges. (The listing of a member is usually last name and state affiliation, and then within brackets are the numbers of votes they participated in - Yea, Nay, or other; their Majority Index; and their Votes in Agreement.)
Below are the factions of the House of Representatives of the 30th Congress, at higher affinity levels.
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Factions in the range of 80% to less than 85%
Houston (AL)-Cobb (GA) Faction
mean Majority Index - (-10), max Majority Index - (-9.19), min Majority Index - (-10.06), number - 3
Houston (AL)[468, -9.19, 39.13%], Hill (TN)[467, -9.42, 40.43%], Cobb (GA)[467, -10.06, 38.26%]
Kennon (OH)-Thomas (TN) Faction
mean Majority Index - (-5), max Majority Index - (-4.08), min Majority Index - (-6.65), number - 2
Kennon (OH)[466, -4.08, 39.57%], Thomas (TN)[466, -6.65, 39.13%]
Factions in the range of 75% to less than 80%
Lincoln (IL)-Cranston (RI) Faction
mean Majority Index - 38, max Majority Index - 48.84, min Majority Index - 32.07, number - 12
Lincoln (IL)[473, 48.84, 44.78%], Taylor (OH)[475, 45.47, 44.35%], Rumsey (NY)[476, 39.5, 43.48%], Rockwell (CT)[476, 38.24, 43.91%], Evans (OH)[476, 37.82, 43.04%], Henry (VT)[475, 37.47, 42.61%], Warren (NY)[476, 36.97, 44.35%], Hubbard (CT)[476, 35.08, 43.91%], Gott (NY)[476, 34.87, 39.57%], King (MA)[474, 33.97, 43.04%], Fisher (OH)[476, 33.4, 43.48%], Cranston (RI)[474, 32.07, 42.17%]
Cobb (AL)-Jones (TN) Faction
mean Majority Index - (-7), max Majority Index - (-2.14), min Majority Index - (-10.71), number - 9
Cobb (AL)[467, -2.14, 39.57%], Featherston (MS)[466, -3.43, 40%], Kennon (OH)[466, -4.08, 39.57%], Miller (OH)[466, -5.36, 40.43%], Thomas (TN)[466, -6.65, 39.13%], Houston (AL)[468, -9.19, 39.13%], Hill (TN)[467, -9.42, 40.43%], Cobb (GA)[467, -10.06, 38.26%], Jones (TN)[467, -10.71, 39.57%]
McClelland (MI)-Morris (OH) Faction
mean Majority Index - 14, max Majority Index - 16.92, min Majority Index - 10.28, number - 2
McClelland (MI)[467, 16.92, 42.61%], Morris (OH)[467, 10.28, 42.17%]
Factions in the range of 70% to less than 75%
Lincoln (IL)-Ashmun (MA)
mean Majority Index - 35, max Majority Index - 48.84, min Majority Index - 20, number - 37
Lincoln (IL)[473, 48.84, 44.78%], Dunn (IN)[475, 46.74, 43.48%], Taylor (OH)[475, 45.47, 44.35%], Embree (IN)[473, 39.53, 43.91%], Rumsey (NY)[476, 39.5, 43.48%], Nelson (NY)[476, 38.87, 43.04%], Tallmadge (NY)[475, 38.32, 42.61%], Rockwell (CT)[476, 38.24, 43.91%], Evans (OH)[476, 37.82, 43.04%], Lawrence (NY)[476, 37.82, 42.61%], Henry (VT)[475, 37.47, 42.61%], Brady (PA)[476, 37.18, 42.17%], Warren (NY)[476, 36.97, 44.35%], Grinnell (MA)[476, 36.76, 42.17%], Hunt (NY)[475, 36, 41.3%], Hubbard (CT)[476, 35.08, 43.91%], Vinton (OH)[475, 34.95, 42.17%], Edwards (OH)[476, 34.87, 43.04%], Gott (NY)[476, 34.87, 39.57%], Hale (MA)[476, 34.66, 41.3%], Abbott (MA)[476, 34.03, 43.04%], St. John (NY)[476, 34.03, 38.7%], King (MA)[474, 33.97, 43.04%], Fisher (OH)[476, 33.4, 43.48%], Hall (NY)[476, 33.4, 40.87%], White (NY)[476, 33.4, 41.74%], Smith (CT)[476, 33.19, 41.74%], Marvin (NY)[476, 33.19, 42.61%], Conger (NY)[475, 32.84, 42.61%], Hudson (MA)[476, 32.35, 41.3%], Kellogg (NY)[476, 32.14, 42.17%], Cranston (RI)[474, 32.07, 42.17%], Eckert (PA)[473, 30.66, 41.3%], Dixon (CT)[476, 29.62, 42.17%], Marsh (VT)[476, 28.36, 41.3%], Dickey (PA)[476, 27.94, 42.61%], Ashmun (MA)[475, 20, 39.13%]
McClelland (MI)-Jones (TN) Faction
mean Majority Index - (-2), max Majority Index - 16.92, min Majority Index - (-10.71), number - 24
McClelland (MI)[467, 16.92, 42.61%], Stuart (MI)[468, 13.03, 41.3%], Peck (VT)[469, 10.45, 39.57%], Morris (OH)[467, 10.28, 42.17%], Mann (PA)[466, 9.87, 41.3%], Venable (NC)[467, -0.86, 40.43%], Ficklin (IL)[469, -1.49, 40%], Cobb (AL)[467, -2.14, 39.57%], Featherston (MS)[466, -3.43, 40%], Daniel (NC)[466, -3.86, 38.26%], Kennon (OH)[466, -4.08, 39.57%], Haralson (GA)[466, -4.08, 35.65%], Harris (AL)[470, -5.11, 40.43%], Miller (OH)[466, -5.36, 40.43%], Sawyer (OH)[469, -5.97, 40.43%], Boyd (KY)[469, -6.18, 39.13%], Thomas (TN)[466, -6.65, 39.13%], Johnson (TN)[470, -6.81, 38.26%], McKay (NC)[467, -8.14, 38.26%], Houston (AL)[468, -9.19, 39.13%], Hill (TN)[467, -9.42, 40.43%], Cobb (GA)[467, -10.06, 38.26%], Lumpkin (GA)[466, -10.09, 38.7%], Jones (TN)[467, -10.71, 39.57%]
Cocke (TN)-Crozier (TN) Faction
mean Majority Index - 33, max Majority Index - 34.24, min Majority Index - 29.81, number - 3
Cocke (TN)[476, 34.24, 44.35%], Preston (VA)[476, 34.24, 43.04%], Crozier (TN)[473, 29.81, 43.04%]
Lawrence (NY)-Starkweather (NY) Faction
mean Majority Index - 13, max Majority Index - 16.2, min Majority Index - 9.01, number - 2
Lawrence (NY)[469, 16.2, 43.04%], Starkweather (NY)[466, 9.01, 41.74%]
Factions in the range of 65% to less than 70%
Lincoln (IL)-Goggin (VA) Faction
mean Majority Index - 34, max Majority Index - 48.84, min Majority Index - 21.64, number - 60
Lincoln (IL)[473, 48.84, 44.78%], Pollock (PA)[474, 47.05, 43.91%], Taylor (OH)[475, 45.47, 44.35%], Fulton (VA)[476, 42.86, 43.91%], Embree (IN)[473, 39.53, 43.91%], Rumsey (NY)[476, 39.5, 43.48%], Nelson (NY)[476, 38.87, 43.04%], Tallmadge (NY)[475, 38.32, 42.61%], Rockwell (CT)[476, 38.24, 43.91%], Farrelly (PA)[475, 37.89, 42.17%], Lawrence (NY)[476, 37.82, 42.61%], Evans (OH)[476, 37.82, 43.04%], Henry (VT)[475, 37.47, 42.61%], Brady (PA)[476, 37.18, 42.17%], Hampton (PA)[476, 37.18, 41.74%], Warren (NY)[476, 36.97, 44.35%], Grinnell (MA)[476, 36.76, 42.17%], Hunt (NY)[475, 36, 41.3%], Hubbard (CT)[476, 35.08, 43.91%], Vinton (OH)[475, 34.95, 42.17%], Gott (NY)[476, 34.87, 39.57%], Edwards (OH)[476, 34.87, 43.04%], Slingerland (NY)[476, 34.87, 43.48%], Hale (MA)[476, 34.66, 41.3%], Sherrill (NY)[476, 34.45, 42.17%], Preston (VA)[476, 34.24, 43.04%], Cocke (TN)[476, 34.24, 44.35%], Abbott (MA)[476, 34.03, 43.04%], St. John (NY)[476, 34.03, 38.7%], King (MA)[474, 33.97, 43.04%], Fisher (OH)[476, 33.4, 43.48%], White (NY)[476, 33.4, 41.74%], Hall (NY)[476, 33.4, 40.87%], Holmes (NY)[475, 33.26, 41.3%], Marvin (NY)[476, 33.19, 42.61%], Smith (CT)[476, 33.19, 41.74%], Strohm (PA)[473, 32.98, 43.04%], Conger (NY)[475, 32.84, 42.61%], Barringer (NC)[473, 32.77, 40.43%], Canby (OH)[474, 32.7, 41.74%], Hudson (MA)[476, 32.35, 41.3%], Kellogg (NY)[476, 32.14, 42.17%], Cranston (RI)[474, 32.07, 42.17%], Clingman (NC)[476, 31.51, 42.17%], McIlvaine (PA)[474, 31.43, 40%], Gregory (NJ)[476, 31.3, 41.74%], Flournoy (VA)[476, 30.88, 41.3%], Eckert (PA)[473, 30.66, 41.3%], Putnam (NY)[476, 30.25, 41.74%], Smith (IN)[475, 30.11, 41.3%], Crozier (TN)[473, 29.81, 43.04%], Dixon (CT)[476, 29.62, 42.17%], Collamer (VT)[476, 29.2, 41.74%], Silvester (NY)[476, 28.99, 40.87%], Rockwell (MA)[476, 28.78, 38.26%], Marsh (VT)[476, 28.36, 41.3%], Dickey (PA)[476, 27.94, 42.61%], Crowell (OH)[475, 26.74, 40.87%], Palfrey (MA)[473, 21.99, 39.57%], Goggin (VA)[476, 21.64, 41.74%]
Cathcart (IN)-Atkinson (VA) Faction
mean Majority Index - 1, max Majority Index - 18.76, min Majority Index - (-11.3), number - 43
Cathcart (IN)[469, 18.76, 42.17%], McClelland (MI)[467, 16.92, 42.61%], Lawrence (NY)[469, 16.2, 43.04%], Thompson (IA)[469, 13.86, 40.87%], Stuart (MI)[468, 13.03, 41.3%], Thurston (RI)[466, 12.66, 41.3%], Peck (VT)[469, 10.45, 39.57%], Morris (OH)[467, 10.28, 42.17%], Mann (PA)[466, 9.87, 41.3%], Faran (OH)[468, 9.4, 41.3%], Starkweather (NY)[466, 9.01, 41.74%], Jenkins (NY)[467, 8.14, 40.43%], Smart (ME)[469, 7.25, 40.87%], Rockhill (IN)[466, 6.65, 40.87%], French (KY)[466, 6.01, 38.7%], Bingham (MI)[466, 5.79, 40.43%], Peaslee (NH)[469, 4.9, 41.3%], Ritchey (OH)[467, 3.64, 39.57%], Clarke (KY)[466, 1.72, 39.57%], Venable (NC)[467, -0.86, 40.43%], Ficklin (IL)[469, -1.49, 40%], Cobb (AL)[467, -2.14, 39.57%], Green (MO)[467, -3, 38.26%], Featherston (MS)[466, -3.43, 40%], Daniel (NC)[466, -3.86, 38.26%], Kennon (OH)[466, -4.08, 39.57%], Haralson (GA)[466, -4.08, 35.65%], Hall (MO)[468, -4.91, 39.13%], Harris (AL)[470, -5.11, 40.43%], Kaufman (TX)[466, -5.15, 39.57%], Miller (OH)[466, -5.36, 40.43%], Sawyer (OH)[469, -5.97, 40.43%], Boyd (KY)[469, -6.18, 39.13%], Beale (VA)[467, -6.21, 38.26%], Thomas (TN)[466, -6.65, 39.13%], Johnson (TN)[470, -6.81, 38.26%], McKay (NC)[467, -8.14, 38.26%], Houston (AL)[468, -9.19, 39.13%], Hill (TN)[467, -9.42, 40.43%], Cobb (GA)[467, -10.06, 38.26%], Lumpkin (GA)[466, -10.09, 38.7%], Jones (TN)[467, -10.71, 39.57%], Atkinson (VA)[469, -11.3, 36.09%]
Clark (ME)-Williams (ME) Faction
mean Majority Index - 9 max Majority Index - 8.97, min Majority Index - 8.1, number - 2
Clark (ME)[468, 8.97, 40.87%], Williams (ME)[469, 8.1, 41.3%]
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