Congressional Partisanship, in one chart

Published: 06 Aug, 2012

1 min read

Congressional partisanship is increasingly dividing lawmakers, policy debate is split along party lines, and the dissenting voice is diminishing in American politics.

The cause? The increasing tendency of lawmakers to vote along party lines, making the debate over issues one-dimensional. The moderate voice in Congress has all but disappeared, and between the years 1965-2004, the dissenting voice has been muted.

Ashley Joachim and Bryan Jones further explain,

Issue-centric conceptions of congressional voting were replaced by ideological ones emphasizing the power of party and ideology to readily simplify the complexities of congressional life.

The Washington Post's Ezra Klein shows us why Congress is increasingly polarized, dissent is low, and debate is one-dimensional, in one chart:

Frustrated? So are most Americans, and Congressional approval ratings are at an all-time low. Join us Thursday, August 9 to discuss real solutions with non-partisan group No Labels on Twitter. Want more information about our tweet chat? Click here.

Could This Well-Funded Independent Upend the CA Governor’s Race?

Ethan Penner, a Calabasas businessman, author, and educator with a storied career in real estate finance, has officially announced his intention to run for California governor in 2026 as an independent. On his campaign website, Penner says he is running to “disrupt the failing two-party system.” ...

12 Sep, 2025

5 min read

Forward Party Joins Petition to SCOTUS Against State of Florida

Right now, the divide between the Republican and Democratic Parties appears beyond repair. The political rhetoric is toxic, the nation’s leadership puts party gain before lasting solutions, and few voters actually feel heard by the people elected to represent them. At a time when it seems things will only get worse from here, the Independent Voter Project filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court along with Open Primaries and the Forward Party in support of a lawsuit that targets one of the biggest culprits behind all of this....

16 Sep, 2025

3 min read

Poll: 82% of Americans Want Redistricting Done by Independent Commission, Not Politicians

There may be no greater indication that voters are not being listened to in the escalating redistricting war between the Republican and Democratic Parties than a new poll from NBC News that shows 8-in-10 Americans want the parties to stop....

10 Sep, 2025

3 min read

Congressional Partisanship, in one chart

You Might Also Like