Final answer:
The statement that caucus members are less pressured to vote the party line on controversial issues is false. Party leaders exert significant influence on caucus members to ensure party line voting, and ideological polarization increases this pressure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "Caucus members are pressured less to vote the party line on controversial issues" is generally considered false. Party members are often subject to various pressures from leaders and the party apparatus to ensure that they vote in line with party policies, especially on high-stakes or controversial issues.
Party leaders, particularly in the majority party, exercise substantial influence over members, including offering incentives like committee assignments or campaign resources in exchange for party loyalty. Moreover, since the parties have become more ideologically polarized, deviating from the party line can have serious consequences for caucus members, such as losing party support during re-election campaigns or facing primary challenges from within the party.
Therefore, whether in a caucus system or a primary system, the trend has been towards greater party conformity, making it challenging for members to resist pressure to vote with their party on controversial legislation.