Party Polarization and Legislative Gridlock

@article{Jones2001PartyPA,
  title={Party Polarization and Legislative Gridlock},
  author={David R. Jones},
  journal={Political Research Quarterly},
  year={2001},
  volume={54},
  pages={125 - 141}
}
  • David R. Jones
  • Published 1 March 2001
  • Economics
  • Political Research Quarterly
This article investigates how parties affect legislative gridlock-the inability of government to enact significant proposals on the policy agenda. Conventional accounts suggest that divided party control of govemment causes such stalemate. I offer an alternative partisan model of gridlock that incorporates party polarization, party seat division, and the interaction between these two factors. Using an original data set of major legislative proposals considered between 1975 and 1994, I find that… 
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