The Weakening of Representation and Policy-Making: The Downfall of Political Parties

1490 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: An essay on polical parties

"It's a reflection of the political dynamic in America, where we don't look at America as a whole. We look at it through the red and blue prism” (Taylor, 1). The red and blue prism that Senator Olympia Snowe is referring to is the political parties that function in the United States. The current existence of political parties in America is a hindrance to effective representation of the people. Because of the lack of bipartisanship between the parties in Congress, the absence of compromise leads to gridlock in regards to passing legislations by members of Congress. In this paper, I will argue how the strengthening of political parties’ polarization in America—and the priority of party over constituents—contributed to a lack of effective representation and increased challenges to policy-making.

In the United States, members of Congress align themselves with party leaders over their constituents in order to get elected. The distinction between political parties causes members of Congress to associate themselves with a party in order to garner the subsequent benefits. Through public officials’ blatant lack of input for their constituency, it has been proven that members of Congress require party support in order to get re-elected, which feeds an endless cycle of catering to party ideals over the public. According to John Aldrich and David Rhode’s, The Logic of Conditional Party Government: Revisiting the Electoral Connection, they state that there are two party government strategies: party pressure and gatekeeping. Vulnerable members of Congress are placed in a tough position between listening to their constituents and their party. A political party is able to effectively pressure members of Congress to adhere to the values held by ...

... middle of paper ...

...com. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2012. .

"Avalon Project - Washington's Farewell Address 1796." Avalon Project - Documents in Law, History and Diplomacy. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. .

Binder, Sarah. "Through the Looking Glass, Darkly: What has Become of the Senate?." The Forum 9.4 (2011): 4, 12. Print.

Davidson, Roger H., and Walter J. Oleszek. Congress and its members. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Press, 1981. Print.

Reeve, Elspeth. "John Boehner Forgot Who Grover Norquist Is - Politics - The Atlantic Wire." The Atlantic Wire. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2012. .

Sinclair, Barbara . Senate Parties and Party Leadership. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2012. Print.

Show More
Related

  • Analysis of The Party Is Over by Mile Lofgren

    766 Words  | 2 Pages

    In closing, this book informs us on how the Republicans went crazy and Democrats became useless, and how it’s become a problem. The books unfolds the faults of the Republicans and Democrats “behind the scenes”, and made me more aware of the parties today.

    Read More

  • Relationship between the American People and Congress

    765 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the past century, people continued to express an increasingly discontent view of Congress especially true when one looks back before the Clinton Impeachment debacle As the size of the nation and the number of congressman have grown, the congress has come under attack by both public influences and congressman themselves. Yet looking at one congressman's relationship with his or her constituents, it would be hard to believe that this is the branch of government that has come under suspect. In “If Ralph Nader says congress is 'The broken branch,' how come we love our congressman so much?” author Richard F. Fenno, Jr., provides insight into this view and why, through congress coming under fire, constituents still feel positively about there congressmen. Although congress is often criticized, its fine tuned functioning is essential in checking the power of congress without hindering the making of legislation.

    Read More

  • Congressional Oversight in American Politics

    1286 Words  | 3 Pages

    Davidson, Roger H., Walter J. Oleszek, and Frances E. Lee. Congress and Its Members. Washington, D.C.: CQ, 2009. Print.

    Read More

  • Lee Hamilton's Public Criticisms Of Congress Still Doing Their Job?

    1323 Words  | 3 Pages

    In this essay I will explore whether or not members of congress are still doing their job or just trying to keep their good reputation with their constituents for re-election time. The question of whether or not members of congress are doing their job effectively has been a great topic of controversy. Being a member of congress has turned into a long term struggle of constantly working towards reelection and trying to balance keeping their districts happy and still being a part of major legislature. Is there a way for members of congress to keep their district happy and still manage the bigger issues they are expected to deal with? Most Americans will complain that they are not happy and that their representatives are not doing their job in

    Read More

  • Religion And Morality In George Washington's Farewell Address

    908 Words  | 2 Pages

    Though he is aware that these parties are likely to grow, he advises that “wise people” (Washington, 1796) will discourage it. He cautions that in promoting political parties the danger arises of one party seeking the upper hand and that it ignites animosity at the expense of the public.

    Read More

  • Election of 1828

    1288 Words  | 3 Pages

    Americans have become so engrossed with the rhetoric of political parties that many are unable have real discussions about “freedom, fairness, equality, opportunity, security, accountability.” (Lakoff p.177) The election of 1828 gave birth to the “professional politician” it demonstrated how “ambivalence” on issues, how image and the right language or narrative can influence voters. Partisanship did increase competition and empower voters to a greater degree, but it has also divided Americans and obstructed communication. As one historian declared the “old hickory” killed the ideal of nonpartisan leadership. (Parsons p.184) For better or for worse American politics were forever be changed in 1828.

    Read More

  • The Two-Party System

    1627 Words  | 4 Pages

    system produces conflicts between the Congress and the President and promotes very outdated beliefs that stem from the Constitution. A vast majority of the American population has the stern belief that the Constitution does not need to be changed in any way, shape, or form. This belief, however, is keeping the country from progressing along with other countries around the world. These single parties are holding control of multiple branches of government at once and monopolizing the power during their respective terms. The government “faces an incapacity to govern since each party works as a majority party” and believes there is no reason for innovation (Dulio & Thurber, 2000). The two parties are seemingly always clashing about one thing or the other, making it difficult for things to get accomplished, and proves the thesis correct that the two-party system is ineffective for a growing country.

    Read More

  • Congressional Intern Reflection

    298 Words  | 1 Pages

    This past summer, when I lived and worked in Washington, DC—first as a U.S. Senate Page and then as a Congressional Intern—I gained invaluable experience and insight to the American political system. It is amazing how much one can learn from simply overhearing the conversations of Members of Congress on a daily basis. Working on the floor of the Senate and then in the back rooms of a Congressional office were two entirely different experiences, each teaching me in a distinctive way about how our political system functions. While I most definitely became aware of how bureaucratic and slow our democratic system can be, I also discovered that with a commitment to unity and prosperity for the common good, great feats are attainable through government.

    Read More

  • Factionalism in America

    1750 Words  | 4 Pages

    In discussing the problems surrounding the issue of factionalism in American society, James Madison concluded in Federalist #10, "The inference to which we are brought is that the causes of cannot be removed and that relief is only to be sought in the means of controlling its effects." (Federalist Papers 1999, 75) In many ways, the nature of American politics has revolved around this question since our country's birth. What is the relationship between parties and government? Should the party serve as an intermediary between the populace and government, and how should a government respond to disparate ideas espoused by the factions inherent to a free society. This paper will discuss the political evolution that has revolved around this question, examining different "regimes" and how they attempted to reconcile the relationship between power and the corresponding role of the people. Beginning with the Federalists themselves, we will trace this evolution until we reach the contemporary period, where we find a political climate described as "interest-group liberalism." Eventually this paper will seek to determine which has been the most beneficial, and which is ultimately preferable.

    Read More

  • The Need to Reform Government in Order to Obtain a Brighter Future

    1417 Words  | 3 Pages

    We must guard against partisanship and promote comprise in our government by changing its structure; one of the ways this can be done is by preventing factions that influence the judgment of our representatives from forming. This is a very important issue to solve because the power that factions have on our politicians personally and politically makes them less likely to vote on important legislation. The two ways to do this are as follows: (1) remove its causes to keep them from forming and (2) Control its effects (Kernell, 2013, p. 77). In order to prevent future factions, such as the tea party movement, from forming, politicians from the party which it originated have to start working on developing their own position that will help curtail factions from forming and hurting its own pa...

    Read More

  • Checks and Balances

    1079 Words  | 3 Pages

    Joseph Harris, The Advice and Consent of the Senate (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1953).

    Read More

  • Minorities in Congress

    4214 Words  | 9 Pages

    If we take a more in-depth look at the composition of Congress we see a body disproportionate with its Nation. Congress has maintained a fairly homogenous make-up since its founding even into the year 2001. This conclusion raises no eye brows as both the executive and judicial branches of government have also maintained a very white, male, Protestant resemblance. However, Congress was formed for a distinct purpose: to represent the people of the United States of America. The melting pot of America’s huddled masses has been slow in placing leaders that truly represent its demographics.

    Read More

  • The Conservative Coalition

    1924 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout the course of history, there have been multiple times when bipartisanship has played an important role. However, one of the most noticeable times of a bipartisan coalition that lasted more than fifty years would be that of the conservative coalition. From the 1930s until the 1990s, the conservative coalition played a major role in determining the policies of Congress and the nation. It formed, partly, as a reaction to the progressive policies of then president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and other progressive members of the government (Patterson 1966, 757). After its extended reign in Congress, it eventually disappeared into history during the congressional revolutions of the 1980s and 1990s (. Therefore, Congress rose to power for a number of different reasons that led to a platform of issues but eventually morphed into the Republican Party of the mid-1990s.

    Read More

  • Political Polarization in the United State

    1401 Words  | 3 Pages

    The United States of America has engaged in the battle known as political polarization since before its foundation in 1776. From the uprising against the powerful British nation to the political issues of today, Americans continue to debate about proper ideology and attempt to choose a side that closely aligns with their personal beliefs. From decade to decade, Americans struggle to determine a proper course of action regarding the country as a whole and will often become divided on important issues. Conflicts between supporters of slavery and abolitionists, between agriculturalists and industrialists, and between industrial workers and capitalists have fueled the divide. At the Congressional level there tends to be a more prevalent display of polarization and is often the blame of Congress’ inefficiency. James Madison intentionally designed Congress to be inefficient by instating a bicameral legislation. Ambition would counter ambition and prevent majority tyranny. George Washington advised against political parties that would contribute to polarization and misrepresentation in his Farewell Address of 1796. Washington warns, “One of the expedients of party to acquire influence within particular districts is to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts.” Today, the struggle to increase power between political parties results in techniques to gain even the smallest marginal gains. To truly understand political polarization, we must examine data collected through a variety of means, the effects of rapidly changing technology, and observe what techniques are used to create such a polarized political system.

    Read More

  • The Democratic National Party vs. the Republican National Party

    1123 Words  | 3 Pages

    Since the beginning of American politics, we have lived in a two party political system. These two parties play a very important role in our government, they are a source of ideas for public policy, and they legally oppose each other (class citation), forcing compromises of ideas which are beneficial to the people of the United States of America. Though these two parties generally always oppose each other on the issues, some people believe that there are not significant differences between the Democratic National Party and the Republican National Party. Despite similarities in views on foreign policy, the Democratic National Party and the Republican National Party are different based on their stands on domestic economic issues in the 1992 and 1996 presidential elections.

    Read More

More about The Weakening of Representation and Policy-Making: The Downfall of Political Parties

Open Document