Module 7: Congressional Power & Gridlock

Gridlock

• A state where government cannot pass laws or make decisions due to political disagreements.

Filibuster

A Senate procedure where a senator or group delays or blocks a vote on a bill by holding the floor in extended debate.

Cloture

A Senate vote requiring a 60-vote supermajority to stop debate/a filibuster and force a final vote on a bill.

Omnibus Legislation:

A massive bill combining dozens or hundreds of separate laws and spending items into one single package.

Partisan Polarization

The growing ideological distance and hostility between political parties (Democrats & Republicans), making compromise difficult.

Veto Points:

• Individual steps in the legislative process where a bill can be delayed or killed completely.

Executive Action

Direct orders or administrative rules issued by the President without requiring congressional legislation.

Institutional inefficiency

The intentional setup of the U.S. government to make lawmaking deliberate, slow, and resistant to quick changes.