Since the 1970s, partisanship has steadily __________ in Congress, due in part to__________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The question asks for the trend in partisanship, which means the level of political polarization or division among the two major parties in Congress. According to numerous studies and analyses, including the widely cited work of political scientists Nolan McCarty, Keith Poole, and Howard Rosenthal, partisanship has increased steadily in Congress since the 1970s, with a particularly sharp rise in recent decades. This trend has been attributed to a number of factors, including changes in the regional bases and ideologies of the Republican and Democratic parties, as well as structural features of the political system such as redistricting and the rise of interest groups and outside spending. The other answer choices are incorrect or incomplete, as they do not accurately reflect the evidence and explanations for the trend of increasing partisanship in Congress.

Since the 1970s, Partisanship Has Steadily __________ in Congress, Due