Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was one of the main causes of the Occupy Wall Street movement?
What was one of the main causes of the Occupy Wall Street movement?
What key issues have been consistently supported by the left wing of the Democratic Party following the Occupy Movement?
What key issues have been consistently supported by the left wing of the Democratic Party following the Occupy Movement?
How did Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign influence political discourse among younger voters?
How did Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign influence political discourse among younger voters?
What event significantly increased the visibility of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020?
What event significantly increased the visibility of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020?
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What was the general trend regarding Republican opinions on the Black Lives Matter movement following its rise?
What was the general trend regarding Republican opinions on the Black Lives Matter movement following its rise?
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What has been one consequence of party polarization in U.S. government functions?
What has been one consequence of party polarization in U.S. government functions?
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What is a frequent consequence of Congress and the president failing to authorize and appropriate funds?
What is a frequent consequence of Congress and the president failing to authorize and appropriate funds?
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Which Congress had the lowest legislative productivity, according to the provided data?
Which Congress had the lowest legislative productivity, according to the provided data?
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What trend has been identified concerning public approval ratings for Congress?
What trend has been identified concerning public approval ratings for Congress?
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What is one major factor affecting presidential approval ratings?
What is one major factor affecting presidential approval ratings?
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Which historical figure was notable for switching from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party?
Which historical figure was notable for switching from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party?
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What did the rise of the evangelical movement in the 1980s lead to regarding party allegiance?
What did the rise of the evangelical movement in the 1980s lead to regarding party allegiance?
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According to scholars, where is polarization believed to be mostly occurring in the United States?
According to scholars, where is polarization believed to be mostly occurring in the United States?
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What indication shows a decline in institutional confidence and trust in Congress?
What indication shows a decline in institutional confidence and trust in Congress?
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How did technology play a role in political polarization during the 20th century?
How did technology play a role in political polarization during the 20th century?
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What trend was observed with moderate Republicans in the late 20th century?
What trend was observed with moderate Republicans in the late 20th century?
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Which social issues contributed to the alignment of the Solid South with the Republican Party?
Which social issues contributed to the alignment of the Solid South with the Republican Party?
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What was the impact of national news coverage on politicians during the 20th century?
What was the impact of national news coverage on politicians during the 20th century?
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Study Notes
Divided Government and Partisan Polarization
- Divided government occurs when one or more legislative houses are controlled by the opposite party of the executive
- Unified government occurs when the same party controls both the executive and the legislature
- Divided government can make fulfilling campaign promises difficult, and passing legislation challenging, because of cooperation / agreement required from both Congress and president
- A 1950 APSA article criticized the similarity of political parties, advocating for distinct, cohesive parties for a more functional democracy, emphasizing clear policy choices, agenda delivery by cohesive parties, and acting as a "loyal opposition" to offer checks and balances.
- Party polarization, where parties are becoming more dissimilar, is a recent issue
- Moderate politicians are less likely to be elected, leading to more polarized parties
- There's historical bipartisan cooperation; however, in recent decades, polarization is increasing.
- Party polarization has increased, impacting the nature of political compromise
- This shift isn't due to the reforms recommended by APSA, instead moderate politicians found it harder to win elections with parties becoming more distinct
- Negative impacts of polarization are numerous, besides offering more distinct voter choices
- Multiple theories exist to understand the causes of polarization
- One theory suggests that polarization is a result of party sorting of the electorate, where voters consistently choose parties aligning with particular ideals, increasing reliance on national issues
- The shift to national issues is related to a change in how voters receive information, with national news becoming more prevalent in the 1950s
- Another theory is that gerrymandering has resulted in the decline of moderate voters; this is the manipulation of electoral district boundaries
Implications of Polarization
- Polarization hasn't had an overall net positive impact on US politics, despite offering distinct choices to voters
- The relationship between the two parties has dramatically changed, with fewer moderate/ideologically central candidates elected.
- This shift away from moderation can be seen in government and party organizations where parties are increasingly distinct. This often means fewer members of Congress have mixed voting records, and are more likely to vote according to party leadership.
- This has resulted in a drop in moderate voters participating in party politics, with many becoming independents or participating only in general elections.
- Negative impacts are numerous (e.g., reducing interparty conflict)
- Polarization and governmental ineffectiveness are linked, given that government shutdowns occur frequently with divided government.
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Description
This quiz explores the concepts of divided and unified government, illustrating how legislative control impacts political dynamics. It also delves into the increasing polarization between political parties and its implications for democracy and governance. Understanding these key ideas is essential for analyzing contemporary political challenges.
