The Functions of Informal Groups in Legislative Institutions

Abstract

SOCIAL SCIENTISTS HAVE LONG RECOGNIZED the value of the two approaches combined in the analysis reported in this paper-namely, functional analysis and the study of informal groups. Political scientists, however, have been slow to apply them systematically in their investigations of political institutions and behavior. Neither has as yet achieved a permanent place in the methodolgy of our discipline. For this latter reason, it will be worthwhile to examine briefly the meaning of these concepts before presenting the substantive analysis. The relationship of political scientists to functional analysis is roughly that of M. Jourdain to prose; not fully conscious of his methodology, the analyst fails to use it systematically and thus fails to take full advantage of its potential. A quick review of the literature of political science would reveal many references to the functions of political behavior patterns and institutions, but self conscious systematic uses of the concept and approach would be hard to find. Moreover, owing to our traditional emphasis upon legalconstitutional and prescriptive analysis, many investigations have been limited to either the constitutionally prescribed functions' or functional prescriptions based upon the authors' values. Though both of these may be legitimate enterprises, they do not fully exploit functional analysis and without supplementation may lead to incomplete understanding and therefore superficial evaluation.2