[Sidenote: The influence of small groups in Congress.] =The Congressional Oligarchies.=—We are in the habit of assuming that the power in national lawmaking rests with the 531 men who constitute the Senate and the House of Representatives; but the dominating influence is in reality exercised by a relatively small group of men in both chambers. The chairmen of important committees and certain others of long congressional experience are the men whose influence counts. The rest follow their lead for the most part. Important measures, moreover, are often discussed in a caucus of the majority party, and the action of the caucus is considered binding on all who attend it. A member in either chamber, especially a new member, who displays a disposition to be wholly independent, and to disregard the advice of his party leaders or the decisions of his party caucus is not likely to get many favors for himself or for his district. The senator or representative who desires to be effective finds it necessary, therefore, to help others with their plans whether he approves them heartily or not, in order that he may be, in turn, helped with his own. It is almost always true that a group of thirty or forty members, on the majority side, can secure the passage of measures which they desire and can prevent the passage of measures to which they are opposed.[121] In this respect the Congress of the United States does not differ much from legislative bodies the world over. Large deliberative bodies are invariably prone to follow the lead of some relatively small group in their own membership; otherwise they would never make headway, and the larger the chamber the more likely is this to be true. General References JAMES BRYCE, _American Commonwealth_, Vol. I, pp. 97-208; WOODROW WILSON, _Congressional Government_, pp. 58-129; C. A. BEARD, _American Government and Politics_, pp. 231-293; _Ibid._, _Readings on American Government and Politics_, pp. 214-271; EVERETT KIMBALL, _National Government of the United States_, pp. 308-378; W. B. MUNRO, _Government of the United States_, pp. 146-218; S. W. MCCALL, _The Business of Congress_, pp. 43-84; LYNN HAINES, _Your Congress_, pp. 67-109. Group Problems