Party Polarization In Congress

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Party polarization is very prominent in our Congress today. This polarization is the divide between the Democrat and Republican party on different issues regarding policy, which causes a distinct separation among the parties. Members of each party typically consolidate around their own party’s position, with little wavering towards another party’s (P.371). There are several different theories of why this divide inside of Congress occurs which include redistricting, Congressional elections, and states becoming more homogenous. Redistricting, also known as Gerrymandering plays a major role in how elections will ultimately play out. District lines are redrawn every 10 years, and gerrymandering occurs when those lines are drawn in such a way that a particular party is heavily favored in that area to increase the potential for success in an election (p.372). Redistricting allows for the competition of the other party to be removed, but it also increases the competition within their own party. Members of a particular party all share the same views which creates a race inside their own party. This eliminates the possibility of any moderate thinkers to be elected, and allowing those candidates with radical beliefs of either conservatism or …show more content…
This purely black or white type of situation does not accurately depict the ideologies of the gray, moderate thinking American population that the elected officials are representing (p.373). Americans are not often very strong liberal or very strong democrats like these parties represent, they are usually a little on either side (p.373). Party polarization is causing a radical rule among the legislature that is not addressing the majority of the public, and it seems to be an endless cycle that will never result in policies that benefit our country as a

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