Democratic Study Group Explained

The Democratic Study Group (DSG) was a caucus consisting of liberal members of the Democratic Party in the United States House of Representatives, which also operated as a legislative service organization (LSO). It was founded in 1959 and was active until 1994.^[1] It was founded "as a liberal counterpoint to the influence of senior conservatives and southern Democrats," and played a crucial role in passing liberal legislation in spite of the opposition of the conservative coalition during the late 1950s and 1960s.^[2] After the 1970s, its role focused on legislative service, whose "principal activity [was] to disseminate detailed written materials to members of the House about upcoming legislation and policy issues, which it [did] on a daily basis when the chamber [was] in session."^[3]

Chairs

• Rep. Lee Metcalf (MT-1)
• Rep. John Brademas (IN-3)
• Rep. James G. O'Hara (MI-12)
• Rep. Frank Thompson (NJ-4)
• Rep. Donald M. Fraser (MN-5)
• Rep. Phillip Burton (CA-5)
• Rep. Tom Foley (WA-5)
• Rep. Abner J. Mikva (IL-10)
• Rep. Dave Obey (WI-7)
• Rep. Matthew F. McHugh (NY-28)
• Rep. Jim Oberstar (MN-8)
• Rep. Mike Lowry (WA-7)

Further reading

• Polsby, Nelson W. "How Congress Evolves", New York: Oxford University Press 2004
• Stevens Jr., Arthur G., Miller, Arthur H., Mann, Thomas E., "Mobilization of Liberal Strength in the House, 1955-1970: The Democratic Study Group," The American Political Science Review, Vol 68. No. 2. (Jun., 1974), pp. 667–681.At J-STOR

External links

• Abner Mikva Interview No. 4
• A search crew recovered the body of Richard Conlon
• When Liberals Were Organized

See also

• Conservative Coalition
• Legislative Digest
• United States Democratic Party
• History of the United States Congress

Notes and References

1. Web site: Zelizer. Julian E.. 2015-01-22. When Liberals Were Organized. 2021-04-09. The American Prospect. en-us.
2. Book: Polsby, Nelson W.. How Congress evolves : social bases of institutional change. 2004. Oxford University Press. 0-19-516195-5. Oxford. 51607477.
3. Book: Bloch Rubin, Ruth. Building the Bloc : Intraparty Organization in the US Congress. 2017. Cambridge University Press. 978-1-108-22696-7. 255-256. 1027206038.