Annenberg dean denounces congressional incivility

Kathleen Hall Jamieson said Congress is growing increasingly incivil, a factor which may decrease the body's effectiveness. In a talk entitled "Civility in Congress," Annenberg School of Communication Dean Kathleen Hall Jamieson asked more than 40 attendees, "Why transport half of Congress to Hershey, Pa., with their families for one weekend?" The simple answer, she explained, was that they do not know each other. Jamieson noted that 220 members of Congress participated in a such an event during a bipartisan retreat in Hershey March 7-10 designed to allow members of Congress to "get to know each other better." The trip was important not only because it allowed members to get acquainted with one another, but also because the current relations between members of the 104th Congress are unusually "incivil," according to Jamieson. "There is a very intemperate behavior in the 104th Congress," she said, adding that "basic common courtesy has broken down in our two decision-making bodies." Jamieson added that "fundamental problems" result from this breakdown because the deliberative process needs "mutual human trust" to function properly. "Shut up and sit down," Jamieson said, is not the type of discourse that leads to policy-making. "The process only works if the House has general civility and good conduct between its members," she added. Jamieson focused on one of her recent studies, entitled "Civility in the House of Representatives." The study -- which Jamieson completed in March with the help of a team of graduate and undergraduate students at the Annenberg Public Policy Center -- includes a qualitative analysis of incivil exchanges between members, including the use of vulgarity and name-calling. According to Jamieson, ten out of 11 congressional reporters interviewed for the study thought the level of incivility in Congress is higher in recent years and said there has been "more shouting" and "more threats on the floor." In addition to a number of structural remedies to increase the likelihood of civility in the House, Jamieson recommended a change in the culture in the House to promote reciprocity instead of negative behavior. Noting that it "can be done," College freshman Emily Pollack said she was hopeful that some of Jamieson's structural recommendations could help congressional relations. Jamieson also blamed the media for rewarding tense relations in the House. She said members who exhibit extreme behavior on the floor -- like "the Robert Dornans out there" -- are more concerned with getting on the evening news to reach constituents than with the consequences of their disruptive behavior. "As long as conflict is a norm, the press will always reward people for hyperbolic behavior," Jamieson said. Students and administrators alike said they were honored to hear Jamieson's views on Congress. "Her talk was very enlightening and entertaining," Engineering and Wharton sophomore Paul VanDorpe said. "Dean Jamieson is a wonderful speaker." Bob Cardie, assistant director of the Newman Center, added that "it was very interesting to see the behind-the-scenes of what goes on in Congress."