Uploaded byNational Journal Membership
Congressional Gridlock Analysis
The document discusses congressional productivity and budget resolutions from 2004 to 2013, highlighting that the 112th Congress was notably the least productive since WWII with a significant decrease in passed bills due to partisan gridlock. It references various historical congressional data, indicating that ideological conformity among party members has reduced incentives for compromise. The analysis suggests a widening ideological gap within Senate leadership contributing to legislative stagnation.
More Related Content
Similar to Congressional Gridlock Analysis
Congressional Gridlock Analysis
- 1. Source: “Resumé ofCongressional Activity,” U.S. Senate, 2013. 1 112th Congress the Least Productive since WWII Expert analysis available only to National Journal Members 280 Public Laws 104th Congress passed second fewest laws due to government shutdown in ’95 resulting from gridlock 1028 Public Laws 84th Congress passed more laws than any other post- WWII due to unified Dem control of both chambers 238 Public Laws 112th Congress passed only 90 bills in 2011 due to polarizing post- Republican takeover
- 2. Failure to PassLegislation Like Budget Resolution Now Common Source: CRS Report, “Congressional Budget Resolutions: Historical Information,” Bill Henliff Jr. and Justin Murray, March 13, 2012; Senate Budget Committee. Fiscal Year Senate Adopted Conference Report House Adopted Conference Report Resolution Passed Met April 15th Deadline? # of Days After Deadline 2004 4/11/03 4/11/03 4/11/03 -4 2005 X 5/19/04 X X NA 2006 4/28/05 4/28/05 4/28/05 X 13 2007 X X X X NA 2008 5/17/07 5/17/07 5/17/07 X 19 2009 6/4/08 6/5/08 6/5/08 X 38 2010 4/29/09 4/29/09 4/29/09 X 14 2011 X X X X NA 2012 X X X X NA 2013 X X X X NA Budget Resolution Outcomes in Congress, FY 2004-2013 Budget resolution passed on time Budget resolution passed after deadline Budget resolution not passed 2 Expert analysis available only to National Journal Members
- 3. Partisanship at theRoot of Gridlock in Senate Source: Congressional Budget Office, Historical Tables; Congressional Budget Office, “The Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2013 to 2023,” February 5, 2013. 3 Ideological Conformity Gives Parties in Power Less Incentive to Compromise *National Journal’s Vote Ratings scores members of Congress on selected roll-call votes from the previous year. Members are compared to each other on an ideological scale, from liberal to conservative National Journal Vote Ratings in the Senate 1994 – 2012 Most liberal Republican senator Most conservative Democratic senator Expert analysis available only to National Journal Members
- 4. Wide Ideological GapsAmong Senate Leadership Nearly Standard Source: National Journal Research 2013. 113th Ranking Member Vote Rating 113th Chairman Vote Rating Conservative Vote Ratings of Committee Chairs and Ranking Members Less conservative More conservative Larger ideological gap Smaller ideological gap 4