Outline Of Geography And Gidlock - 944 Words

OUTLINE – GEOGRAPHY AND GIDLOCK IN THE UNITD STATES What is the Problem? (p.104) - One of the few countries in the world that combines a two-party system with a presidential form of government. Most former British colonies with single-member districts and strict two-party system have a parliamentary form of government. - Since 1950 the president has presided over two-thirds of a partisan legislative majority. - Requiring the president to assemble the votes not only of co-partisans, but also of some members of the opposition party. The executive must gather votes from the opposition party that control at least part of the legislative agenda. - The lack of a unified government in the presence of partisan conflict has brought about a legislative agenda producing drama and uncertainty, even over votes that are clearly in the public interest. (E.g. funding the government or avoiding default) - Additionally, party leaders have gathered greater control of congressional process limiting bills that could achieve bipartisan support from reaching the legislative floor. Reinforcing the public’s opinion of polarized politics and generating a cycle of inactive legislation. - Since the end of WWII, the parties have experienced a geographic division, where the Democrats have become the party of inner city, the low-income suburb, and the postindustrial towns, while the Republicans have become the party of white suburbs, exurbs and the rural periphery. Q. So if there are â€Å"moderate†