Category Archives: political parties

“We’re Not Bluffing”

November 20, 2013, 9:07 pmlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

The end of the filibuster of judicial nominees Thursday? What I think has changed in the last few years is the calculation on the downside of going nuclear. How can Sen. McConnell plausibly threaten to make things worse if Democrats… Continue reading

Will Harry Reid Go Nuclear?

November 19, 2013, 8:54 pmlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

If not, he’s a good bluffer.

Mara Liasson Drinks the Open Primary/Redistricting Commission Kool-Aid

November 18, 2013, 7:38 ampolitical parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

Like Adam Nagourney before her, NPR’s Mara Liasson manages to do a story on whether open primary and redistricting reform in California cures hyperpartisanship without quoting the political scientists (such as Seth Masket, Thad Kousser and others) who actually study… Continue reading

“Bills left in limbo are often just part of the choreography in Congress”

November 11, 2013, 7:20 amlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

WaPo reports.

“U.S. Electoral System and Congressional Gridlock”

November 10, 2013, 1:10 pmlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

Watch Rob Richie on C-SPAN.

Drake Law Review Symposium on Political Dysfunction and Constitutional Change

November 8, 2013, 3:08 pmlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

This was a truly great symposium and discussion, now in print. Drake Law Review Volume 61, No. 4, Summer 2013 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW SYMPOSIUM The U.S. Constitution and Political Dysfunction: Is There a Connection? ARTICLES Dedication to Congressman Neal Smith David… Continue reading

“GOP Super PACs Gear Up to Fight Tea Party”

November 8, 2013, 2:11 pmcampaign finance, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

Politico reports.

Notre Dame Law Review Symposium on Gridlock

November 8, 2013, 2:10 pmlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

Check it out: 2012-2013: The American Congress: Legal Implications of Gridlock, Symposium Symposium The Phenomenology of Gridlock Josh Chafetz, 88 Notre Dame L. Rev 2065 View PDF The Court-Packing Plan as Symptom, Casualty, and Cause of Gridlock Barry Cushman, 88… Continue reading

Bauer on Nocera and Nagourney on Political Reform

November 6, 2013, 8:02 ampolitical parties, political polarization, primariesRick Hasen

Here.

“Change Voting Laws Before Constitution”

November 1, 2013, 7:31 amalternative voting systems, legislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarizationRick Hasen

Rob Richie and Devin McCarthy have written this Fresno Bee oped.

“A Primary Cause of Partisanship? Nomination Systems and Legislator Ideology”

October 31, 2013, 3:57 pmlegislation and legislatures, political parties, political polarization, primariesRick Hasen

McGhee, Masket, Shor, Rogers and McCarty have written this article for AJPS. Here is the abstract: Many theoretical and empirical accounts of representation argue that primary elections are a polarizing influence. Likewise, many reformers advocate opening party nominations to nonmembers… Continue reading