The Contentious Senate: Partisanship, Ideology, and the Myth of Cool Judgment

The Senate is becoming more like the House of Representatives in its increasing levels of partisanship and ideology. A transformation of the institution is underfoot, posing questions about the Senate's role as the chamber in which 'cool judgment' prevails. Leading scholars, including U.S. Senate historians, discuss and analyze changes in Senate life including rules and procedures, leadership and party organization, executive and Senate relations, debate and deliberation, and perhaps above all, media spotlight. With all these changes comes a re-examination of Senate efficacy, legitimacy, and appropriateness as an aristocratic chamber in an increasingly democratic system of government.

Colton C. Campbell is assistant professor of political science at Florida International University, and is currently a visiting assistant professor of political science at American University. He is the coeditor of New Majority or Old Minority? The Impact of Republicans on Congress. He served as an APSA Congressional Fellow in 1998-99 in the office of U.S. Senator Bob Graham (D-Fla.).

Nicol C. Rae is professor of political science at Florida International University. He is author of The Decline and Fall of the Liberal Republicans: From 1952 to the Present, Southern Democrats, and Conservative Reformers: The Republican Freshmen and the Lessons of the 104th Congress. He served as an APSA Congressional Fellow in 1995-96 in the office of U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.).