Revolving Gridlock

David Brady and Craig Volden demonstrate that government gridlock is not a product of divided government, party politics, or any of the usual scapegoats.

It is, instead, an instrumental part of American governmentbuilt into our institutions and sustained by leaders.

Looking at key legislative issues from the Reagan, Bush, and Clinton administrations, the authors show that when it comes to government gridlock, it doesnt matter whos in the White House or whos in control of Congress; its as American as apple pie, and its results may ultimately be as sweet in ensuring system stability and democracy. }Since the elections of 1994 and the return of divided government, we are once again hearing a lot of complaints about government gridlock.

Here, political scientists David Brady and Craig Volden demonstrate that gridlock is not a product of divided government, party politics, or any of the usual scapegoats.

It is, instead, an instrumental part of American governmentbuilt into our institutions and sustained by leaders acting rationally not only to achieve set goals but to thwart foolish inadvertencies.Looking at key legislative issues from the Reagan, Bush, and Clinton administrations, the authors clearly and carefully analyze important crux points in lawmaking: the swing votes, the veto, the filibuster. They show that when it comes to government gridlock, it doesnt matter whos in the White House or whos in control of Congress; its as American as apple pie, and its results may ultimately be as sweet in ensuring system stability and democracy. }