Document Type
Article
Abstract
My paper answers the question: What are the origins of extreme political gridlock in the United States government and how can it be solved? I use quantitative research in order to measure the exact periods of split government and I note its effect on the probability of enacting legislation. The qualitative research highlights the key factors that leading to the increase of political gridlock from 1964-2016. From my case study, I argue political gridlock has increased because of ideological shifts in voters and politicians between 1980 and 1992, voting system imbalances, and critical political and economic events. I conclude with a comparative analysis of the US Congress and possible solutions that can be used to solve gridlock. Each solution is linked to one of the key issues established in the case study, and from them I find that through constitutional reforms of the political system political gridlock can be countered.
Recommended Citation
Campbell, Jalen A.
(2019)
"Political Gridlock:The Ongoing Threat to American Democracy,"
Gettysburg Social Sciences Review: Vol. 3:
Iss.
2, Article 2.
Available at:
https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/gssr/vol3/iss2/2
Included in
Political History Commons, President/Executive Department Commons, United States History Commons