Bipartisan Policymaking: The Legislative Consequences of Collaboration

• In Event: Legislative Process (Or Lack Thereof)

Abstract

Despite the reputation of Congress as a hopelessly gridlocked and antagonistic institution, its members frequently work with each other, finding common ground with colleagues on legislation and other policy initiatives. Yet these relationships are largely unobserved and as a result, we have little understanding of the policy implications of collaboration. Using an original dataset of Dear Colleague letters sent by members of Congress to promote their legislation, I identify the bills that are the product of collaboration and examine their fate. I demonstrate that when bipartisan compromise occurs at the earliest stage of the legislative process, the resulting bill is more likely to succeed. As a result, minority party members have a valuable tool to advance their agenda and bipartisanship remains a viable path to policymaking in a polarized Congress so long the necessary compromise happens behind the scenes.

Author

• Alison Craig, University of Texas, Austin