Anatomy of a Legislature: Explaining Legislative Incivility with Fenno’s Committee Framework

Incivility has been a growing concern among observers of legislatures both at the national and state levels. Characteristics like full-time legislatures, high income inequality, high electoral competition, large rural populations, term limits, and conservative majorities correlate with reports of more incivility. But under what institutional conditions do legislators become "uncivil"? Is it strategic or emotional? What are some triggers or incentives? What does “incivility” even mean? Political psychologists have neglected legislators. This study peers into the legislative black box via interviews with state representatives to answer these questions. Fenno’s framework of Congressional committees is used for interview design and analysis to great effect. I describe how institutional features incentivize, guide, and sometimes prevent disruptive behavior. I also find that chair leadership styles warrant further study, which I tackle in a different chapter.