507— Partisan Polarization: American Democracy's Silent Enemy

During a time of intense partisan polarization our democracy and its respective institutions have experienced several instances of gridlock. Our elected representatives’ failure to pursue crucial pieces of legislation has provoked the general public to disapprove of government and politicians. Partisan polarization has changed the entire political environment in the United States. Today, politics is a field most people distance themselves from, fearing to expose their beliefs, or intolerant of opposing partisan views. Some are also led to believe that their views or opinions do not matter, nor would they change the results of an election. For politicians it has become a strategic game, designed for the affluent. This research will illustrate the evolution and development of partisan polarization in the United States, and how such political polarization has affected both constituents and elected government officials.