Partisanship Archives - Close Up Foundation

Diversity, Discord & Democracy

August 24, 2022

We do not have to look far to find evidence of strong partisan hostility in the United States. People are ending long-term friendships, or even cutting off communication with family, over political discord.1 Partisan animosity—feelings of anger, fear, and distrust toward those with whom we disagree—has been steadily increasing for decades.2 Earlier this month, the […]

Constitutional Issues

Historic Second Impeachment, Part Two: Questions of Crime and Punishment

February 08, 2021

This week, the Senate commences an historic second trial of former President Donald Trump, stemming from his actions pertaining to the January 6 Capitol riot.1 Against a backdrop of heightened security, threats made against members of Congress,2 and tensions within the Republican Party,3 senators must determine President Trump’s innocence or guilt, as well as what […]

Constitutional Issues

Historic Second Impeachment, Part One: Questions of Constitutionality and Unity

February 03, 2021

Last week, the House of Representatives delivered an article of impeachment to the Senate, accusing former President Donald Trump of inciting violence against the U.S. government on the basis of his actions relating to the January 6 storming of the Capitol.1 Already the first U.S. president to be impeached twice, President Trump will also become […]

Government & Elections

Is It a Crime When Politicians Lie?

February 05, 2020

“There’s a clear difference between politics and a crime,” Michael Levy told the Supreme Court in January,1 when he made arguments in a case about New Jersey’s “Bridgegate” scandal. As the justices considered whether or not a public official commits fraud by obfuscating the “real reason”2 behind a decision, they asked both sides tough questions […]

Government & Elections

H.R. 1 – A Bill to Rescue Democracy?

January 22, 2019

The first bill introduced in the new Democrat-controlled House of Representatives is H.R. 1, informally known as the For the People Act. (The bill’s full title is H.R. 1: To expand Americans’ access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, and strengthen ethics rules for public servants, and for other […]

Legislative Branch

10 Things to Know About the Government Shutdown

January 15, 2019

Why did the American government shut down? As summarized by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget: “Every year, Congress must pass and the president must sign budget legislation for the next fiscal year (FY), consisting of 12 appropriations bills, one for each appropriations subcommittee. When the federal government’s fiscal year began October 1, Congress had enacted […]

Legislative Branch

The New Congress and the Government Shutdown

January 08, 2019

On January 3, the 116th Congress was sworn in as directed by the 20th Amendment to the Constitution. The incoming Congress will be the most diverse in history. Here are some facts about the makeup of the new Congress: In the House of Representatives, Democrats will now be in the majority with 235 members. Republicans will have […]

Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice Reform: The First Step Act

December 31, 2018

On December 21st, President Trump signed the FIRST STEP Act of 2018 into law. In addition to being a notable act of bipartisanship, the act will have far reaching implications for the nation’s criminal justice system and will have meaningful impacts on the lives of incarcerated people. The bill, whose title is an acronym for […]

Civil Rights & Individual Liberties

Don’t Like the Election Results? Change Them!

December 11, 2018

Just when you thought it was safe to declare the 2018 midterm elections over… Historically, the results of elections have always been honored, even when the fairness of a given contest is debatable. In recent history, for example, some people questioned to what extent the elections of John F. Kennedy1, Richard Nixon2, Ronald Reagan3, George W. Bush4, […]

Legislative Branch

Mueller and the Lame Duck

December 04, 2018

Congress is back in session after Thanksgiving break, but the newly elected senators and representatives have not yet taken their seats. For the next month and a half, the outgoing Republican majority will continue to call the shots in the House of Representatives, meaning that these are the last few weeks of single-party control of […]

Current Issues Blog

Tag: Partisanship

Diversity, Discord & Democracy

Historic Second Impeachment, Part Two: Questions of Crime and Punishment

Historic Second Impeachment, Part One: Questions of Constitutionality and Unity

Is It a Crime When Politicians Lie?

H.R. 1 – A Bill to Rescue Democracy?

10 Things to Know About the Government Shutdown

The New Congress and the Government Shutdown

Criminal Justice Reform: The First Step Act

Don’t Like the Election Results? Change Them!

Mueller and the Lame Duck

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