Quantitative analysis
Party unity and lawmaking in Congress
- Unit 2
- 4 points
- About 20 minutes
You read data in a table, graph or map, find a pattern or trend, draw a conclusion, and connect the data to a political principle, institution, process or behavior. On the exam: Question 2 of 4 in the free-response section (1 hour 40 minutes for all four, 50% of your score).
The question and its sources
The table shows five consecutive two-year sessions of Congress. Unified government means one party controlled the presidency, the House, and the Senate; divided government means it did not. A party-unity vote is a roll-call vote in which a majority of one party votes against a majority of the other party. Use the table to answer parts A, B, C, and D.
Party Control, Laws Enacted, and Party-Unity Votes in Five Sessions of Congress
| Congress | Party control of government | Laws enacted | Party-unity votes (% of all roll-call votes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Unified | 380 | 52 |
| Second | Divided | 290 | 60 |
| Third | Divided | 250 | 66 |
| Fourth | Unified | 330 | 71 |
| Fifth | Divided | 210 | 75 |
Source: Hypothetical data
Suggested time: 20 minutes
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Part (a)
1 pointIdentify the Congress in which the fewest laws were enacted.
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Part (b)
1 pointDescribe the trend in party-unity votes shown in the table.
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Part (c)
1 pointDraw a conclusion about the relationship between party control of government and the number of laws enacted, based on the data in the table.
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Part (d)
1 pointExplain how the trend in party-unity votes could make it harder for Congress to pass laws during divided government.
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