The partisan battle in policymaking within the U.S Congress Essay

The partisan battle in policymaking within the U.S Congress - Essay ExampleThe US Congress consist of the House of Representatives and the Senate both of whom ar required to agree for the passage of laws in the US. (Schiller, 2000) The general powers of Congress atomic number 18 contained in Article 1, partitioning 8 of the US Constitution, although several amendments have added to Congressional powers. (US Constitution, Article 1, Section 8) These powers include but are not limited to the power to regulate commerce, impose taxes, make laws, levy punishments in respect of iniquitous conduct, declare wars, establish post offices, regulate the value of currencies, regulate laws for the acquisition of water and land, support and defy the military, to declare a state of emergency and to discipline the military. (US Constitution, Article 1, Section 8)The US Constitution requires that in order for either the House of Representatives or the Senate to conduct business a quorum is presen t. (US Constitution) A majority right to vote is required to indorse a cause of action and since Congress is typically comprised of two parties, the Democrats and the Republicans the vote is ordinarily controlled by the controlling ships company with the result that partisanship determines policymaking rather than ideology.Roger Scully and Samuel Patterson argue that during the 80s and 90s American politics developed into more deeply entrenched partisan divisions. (Scully and Patterson, 2001, 131-155) With the two party politics that characterizes American governance it is hardly surprising that policymaking is often split along partisan lines. (Soss and Canon, 1995, 253-174) beginning Ronald Brownstein refers to recent developments in Washington as hyperpartisanship (Brownstein, 2007, 8) According to Brownstein partisanship functions to divide the parties and sole(prenominal) heightens disagreements not only among Congress but in American life. (Brownstein, 2007, 9)Put another way, parties