Party Polarization In Congress

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Party polarization is very prominent in our Congress today. This polarization is the divide between the Democrat and Republican party on different issues regarding policy, which causes a distinct separation among the parties. Members of each party typically consolidate around their own party’s position, with little wavering towards another party’s (P.371). There are several different theories of why this divide inside of Congress occurs which include redistricting, Congressional elections, and states becoming more homogenous. Redistricting, also known as Gerrymandering plays a major role in how elections will ultimately play out. District lines are redrawn every 10 years, and gerrymandering occurs when those lines are drawn in such a way that a particular party is heavily favored in that area to increase the potential for success in an election (p.372). Redistricting allows for the competition of the other party to be removed, but it also increases the competition within their own party. Members of a particular party all share the same views which creates a race inside their own party. This eliminates the possibility of any moderate thinkers to be elected, and allowing those candidates with radical beliefs of either conservatism or …show more content…
This purely black or white type of situation does not accurately depict the ideologies of the gray, moderate thinking American population that the elected officials are representing (p.373). Americans are not often very strong liberal or very strong democrats like these parties represent, they are usually a little on either side (p.373). Party polarization is causing a radical rule among the legislature that is not addressing the majority of the public, and it seems to be an endless cycle that will never result in policies that benefit our country as a

Political Polarization In Congress

system is comprised of two parties with opposite views on important topics. When the representatives of these parties experience more constraint to vote towards their parties stance on issues they are less likely to compromise and therefore get less accomplished. This is called political polarization. Political polarization is the cause of reoccurring stalemates, numerous fiscal budget crises, and a growing distrust in Congress and its ability to function. Polarization slows the lawmaking process…

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Summary Of Political Polarization In American Politics

Chapters one through five in Political Polarization in American Politics explain what Americans know about polarization in politics as well as how the state legislature is becoming more polarized. In class, we learned that America is polarized, and this reading supports that idea. Polarization is the distance between the middle of the Democratic and Republican views. As views move farther to the left or right, polarization increases. The polarization is not equal but rather asymmetrical and has occurred…

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