A Study on the Operation of the City Council Sub-Group after the Merger of Taichung City and Taichung County

臺中縣市在2010年合併之前，彼此議會的運作生態截然不同，原臺中縣議會是以紅黑派系所主導的次級團體為議事運作的主體，而原臺中市議會則是以黨團運作為主，但在2010年合併升格為直轄市後，原本縣市不同的議會運作生態，卻因為大環境的變動，無可避免地因合併而產生磨合。 雖然臺中縣市合併後的第1屆市長係由市籍的胡志強當選，但在議會方面，卻是由縣籍議員取得壓倒性的勝利，臺中縣紅黑派系聯手取得正副議長寶座，將縣議會的次級團體文化帶入議會中，組成同心會與日新會，且次級團體在議事運作上，發揮比國民黨團更大的影響力。 為瞭解臺中縣市合併後為何還有次級團體的存在，本文從合併後議會次級團體之形成、次級團體與國民黨團之互動、次級團體運作之效果等3個面向進行觀察，研究結論如下：一、縣籍議員以實力原則強勢主導合併後新議會。二、縣籍議員有強烈誘因組成或加入次級團體。三、縣籍派系議員才是次級團體運作的主體。四、次級團體凌駕於國民黨團之上。五、爭執點由紅黑派系平衡轉變為縣市區域平衡。六、同心會、日新會走向截然不同的發展。七、短期內次級團體仍會繼續存在。The Taichung City Council and Taichung County Council were governed by two contrasting political entities before the merger in 2010. The former was operated by the caucus, while the latter was run by sub-groups consisting of the Red Faction and Black Faction. However, a watershed moment had been reached as the two regions merged to become a special municipality in 2010. Yet, due to the change of political ambiance, what followed was a series of skirmishes. Although the first mayoral seat was garnered by Mr. Hu Chih-chiang, previously from the Provincial Taichung City, the Taichung City Council election then was overwhelming won by the former county councilors. With the joint efforts of the Red and Black Faction, the two factions’ heads had been sworn in as the council speaker and deputy speaker, bringing the sub-group culture into the City Council. Later on, Tong Xin Association and Ri Xin Association were formed, gradually wielding a greater political influence than the KMT caucus upon the Council’s operation. To better understand why such sub-group culture prevails after the merger of Taichung City and Taichung County, this study will look into three aspects, namely the formation of sub-groups after the merger, the interaction between the sub-groups and the KMT caucus, and the operation efficacy of the sub-groups. The research observation can be encapsulated as follows: (1) the county councilors authoritatively dominated the merged Taichung City Council with their stength principle; (2) the county councilors are strongly incentivized to form and/or join sub-groups; (3) the county councilors are the ones that have the biggest say in governing the sub-groups; (4) the sub-groups have gained an upper hand against the KMT caucus; (5) the trigger behind the friction has evolved from power balance to a fairer distribution of resources between the two regions; (6) the transition processes undergone by Tong Xin Association and Ri Xin Association are poles apart; and (7) the sub-groups in the short term will continue to flex their political might