![]() Explanations Focused on Party Culture and Responses to Electoral Parity.Explanations Focused on Party Power and Control.Explanations Focused on Distortion of Electoral Outcomes.Everyone Else (“The Center” or “The Middle”).Polarization in the Electorate: The Political Science Debate.Two Hostile Camps or Many Cross-Pressured Clusters? The Pew Polarization Study.CAN CONGRESSIONAL POLARIZATION BE EXPLAINED BY POLARIZATION IN THE ELECTORATE?.Is Current Polarization Different from Earlier High-Conflict Periods?.How Much Partisan Conflict Is “Normal” for U.S.CONGRESSIONAL POLARIZATION IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT.DETERMINING THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF CONGRESSIONAL POLARIZATION.Finding little support in the literature for the notion that the challenged structures and practices are actually driving legislative polarization, the Essay concludes by suggesting that the rhetoric around congressional polarization-particularly around the likely continuation of partisan warfare and legislative gridlock-is far more negative than the existing evidence can justify. Next, it considers the many theories put forth to explain the phenomenon, focusing initially on whether congressional polarization can be explained by polarization in the electorate and then moving to proposals around the electoral process, party structure and culture, and demographics. It then looks at historical trends to consider whether the contemporary situation is truly anomalous. The Essay begins by discussing standard metrics of congressional polarization and describing alternative approaches that challenge the standard account as overly simplistic. In an effort to better assess the likelihood that congressional dysfunction will be the norm going forward, this Essay reviews and synthesizes recent political science literature with the goal of sorting out what we know-and, perhaps more important, do not know-about the nature, extent, and causes of congressional polarization. These proposals sometimes conflict, and usually face daunting legal or political obstacles to adoption. Scholars and political commentators have called for modifications to the electoral process and to party structure, for additional oversight of the culture among members of Congress, and for increased attention to demographics and economic inequality within the electorate. The tone of these discussions has grown increasingly grim, as many political scientists argue that a constitutional system of divided and shared powers hardens current levels of partisan warfare into legislative gridlock. ![]() Political polarization has become a major focus in contemporary discussions on congressional activity and governance. ![]()
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