WASHINGTON — The most conservative lawmakers in the House Republican majority have gotten their way a lot in recent years. That may be starting to change.

A group of more pragmatic lawmakers defected on an immigration vote last week, and this week forced GOP leaders to water down abortion legislation. With the new, fully Republican-led Congress three weeks old, they are serving notice they will no longer keep quiet as their more ideological colleagues push legislation to the right, demand votes on social issues, or court government shutdowns to try to block President Barack Obama.

“There’s a growing sense in the conference that we need to get things done here, not just make political statements,” said Rep. Carlos Curbelo of Florida, a freshmen lawmaker.

Most of these lawmakers are self-described conservatives themselves, but with a practical, business-friendly approach, and without the uncompromising purity of some on the right. Some, like Curbelo, were elected in districts Obama previously won as Republicans posted dramatic midterm gains in November. They are looking at running for re-election in 2016.

Now they are behind a new dynamic in the House after years when conservatives in the party caucus seemed to call the shots.

In part, the change is because there are more of the new lawmakers. And, they say, the stakes are now higher. With the Senate now under GOP control, House-passed legislation actually has a shot at making it to Obama’s desk.

“Much of the legislation we passed in the past we knew wasn’t going to go anywhere in the Senate; we knew Harry Reid wasn’t going to bring it up for a vote,” said Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-N.C., who led this week’s revolt over the abortion bill.