- Bipartisanship has declined dramatically since 2000 — fewer bills pass with substantial cross-party support than at any point in modern American history.
- The most recent bipartisan legislative achievements include the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021), CHIPS Act (2022), and Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (gun reform, 2022).
- Partisan voting in Congress now exceeds 90% party-line votes in both chambers — senators and representatives vote with their party at historically high rates.
- Bipartisanship is more common on defense, veterans, and disaster relief — and less common on healthcare, taxes, and social policy, where partisan identity is most salient.
What Does Bipartisan Mean?
Bipartisan legislation is legislation that receives meaningful support from both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. In the US context, this typically means a bill passed with votes from members of both parties — not just a token handful of crossover votes, but enough to indicate genuine cross-party coalition-building.
The word itself means “of two parties.” The Senate filibuster makes bipartisanship a structural necessity for much major legislation: because 60 votes are needed to end debate and proceed to a vote, and the two parties rarely each hold 60+ seats, either party hoping to pass major legislation through normal order must win over some members of the other party.
Bipartisanship should be distinguished from unanimity (all members agreeing), from compromise within a party (different factions reaching a deal), and from reconciliation bills, which pass by simple majority and typically receive zero crossover votes.
Recent Bipartisan Legislation
| Law | Year | Senate Vote | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act | 2021 | 69-30 (19 R votes) | Roads, bridges, broadband, water |
| Bipartisan Safer Communities Act | 2022 | 65-33 (15 R votes) | Gun safety, background checks, red flags |
| CHIPS and Science Act | 2022 | 64-33 (17 R votes) | Semiconductor manufacturing, R&D |
| Electoral Count Reform Act | 2022 | 68-29 (18 R votes) | Electoral vote certification rules |
| SECURE 2.0 Act (Retirement) | 2022 | Unanimous | Retirement savings rules |
Why Is Bipartisanship Rare?
Partisan primaries: Congressional candidates must first win their party’s primary election, where voters skew more ideologically extreme than the general electorate. This creates electoral incentives for members to emphasize ideological purity rather than compromise, since the primary threat often looms larger than the general election threat.
Gerrymandering and safe seats: When congressional districts are drawn to favor one party, incumbents face little risk from the other party in the general election. Members in safe seats have limited electoral incentive to reach across the aisle — their main electoral threat comes from a primary challenger, not a general election opponent.
Sorted media ecosystems: Partisan cable news and social media reward conflict over cooperation. Politicians who cut bipartisan deals can face criticism from their own party’s base and media ecosystem as having “caved” or “betrayed” supporters.
Reconciliation as an alternative: Budget reconciliation allows the majority party to pass certain fiscal legislation by simple majority vote, bypassing the filibuster. When the majority party can pass major priorities through reconciliation, the incentive to build bipartisan coalitions diminishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between bipartisanship and compromise?
Compromise means finding middle ground; it can happen within a single party. Bipartisanship specifically requires votes and support from both parties. The 2021 Infrastructure Law was bipartisan because Republicans and Democrats each gave up some priorities to gain others. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act was not bipartisan even though it contained some widely popular provisions — it passed with zero Republican votes through budget reconciliation.
What is the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act?
The BSCA, signed June 2022, was the first significant federal gun legislation in nearly 30 years. It passed 65-33 in the Senate with 15 Republican votes. The law enhanced background checks for under-21 buyers, funded state crisis intervention programs, and clarified that licensed dealers must conduct background checks regardless of venue. It was negotiated by Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and John Cornyn (R-TX).
Why is bipartisan legislation rare?
Partisan primaries, gerrymandered safe seats, sorted media ecosystems, and the availability of reconciliation as an alternative all reduce the incentive for cross-party cooperation. Bipartisan deals most reliably happen on national security, disaster relief, or issues where both party bases actively want action — such as the gun safety bill after a series of high-profile mass shootings.
