Lecture 15: Gridlock 4/11/24
does the gridlock interval increase or decrease with polarization?
increase
can change happen within the gridlock interval?
no, change only happens when existing policy is outside of the interval
between which two points is the gridlock interval?
veto override point and filibuster
the support of which four pivotal persons is needed to pass legislation?
-the median members of the House and Senate, -the filibuster Senator, -either the president or theoverride members. makes legislation incredibly difficult to pass even if there are majorities in favor- status quo bias legislation that does pass is often more conservative than it otherwise would have been
how does the gridlock interval help explain presidential honeymoons?
At the beginning of a new presidency, there are a lot of policies outside the gridlock interval. After a few years, all the easypolicies have been dealt with.
What is gridlock?
Collective failure to act, even though a majority would like to see policy action.
gridlock interval
Space within which policy cannot move The region between the veto override pivot and the filibuster pivot in which no legislation can be passed. Contains all moderate policies and the median preference. a legislative "traffic jam" often precipitated by divided government. Occurs when presidents confront opposition-controlled congress with policy preferences and political stakes that are in direct competition with their own and those of their party. Neither side is willing to compromise, the government accomplishes little, and federal operations may come to a halt a. Policies inside of the interval cannot be moved. One of the veto pivots always prefers this policy to an alternative proposal. b. Policies outside of the interval can be moved into it gridlock interval c. Elections change the size and position of this
how do the rules diffuse veto authority?
a lot of different actors are able to block action unless it advances their preferred goals.
what introduces status quo bias in gridlock politics?
bicameralism
what is the major limitation in unified government?
the filibuster
grislock implications
▶ Most of the time we have gridlock ▶ Not only less frequent change, but usually `smaller' change `conservative' bias to American institutions ▶ Presidential potential is a function of previous policy changes or stability, congressional majorities, polarization, and filibuster ▶ Institutional rule changes and unied government can create opportunities for radical change
