Bipartisanship

Topic

Agreement or cooperation between two political parties that usually oppose each other's policies. Manchin views its loss as a major problem in American politics and sees the filibuster as a key tool to encourage it.


First Mentioned

10/24/2025, 6:16:53 AM

Last Updated

10/24/2025, 6:18:38 AM

Research Retrieved

10/24/2025, 6:18:38 AM

Summary

Bipartisanship is a political concept, primarily observed in two-party systems like that of the United States, where opposing political parties achieve common ground through compromise to create mutually agreeable public policies. It stands in contrast to partisanship, which prioritizes one's own interests without compromise, and is termed multipartisanship in multi-party systems. Senator Joe Manchin exemplifies a modern advocate for bipartisanship, having successfully collaborated with Republican senators such as Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Mitt Romney on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. His centrist approach, which includes defending the filibuster and blocking certain signature bills from his own party's president, highlights the challenges and importance of finding common ground amidst ideological divides.

Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
  • Goal

    To create mutually agreeable public policies and address critical issues.

  • Antonym

    Partisanship (adherence to one's own interests without compromise).

  • Context

    Typically in two-party systems, especially the United States.

  • Benefits

    Lasting policy, reduced polarization, greater government effectiveness.

  • Definition

    A political situation where opposing political parties find common ground through compromise.

  • Requirements

    Negotiation, understanding, willingness to put country before party.

  • Common occurrence

    During times of crisis (e.g., wars, economic downturns).

  • Related concept (multi-party systems)

    Multipartisanship.

Timeline
  • President George W. Bush frequently called for bipartisanship during his State of the Union addresses. (Source: Web Search Results)

    During his presidency

  • President Barack Obama made similar statements calling for bipartisanship, though it often proved elusive. (Source: Web Search Results)

    During his presidency

  • The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill was signed into law, a result of bipartisan work including Senator Joe Manchin and Republican senators like Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Mitt Romney. (Source: Related Documents, External Search)

    2021-11-15

Bipartisanship

Bipartisanship is a political situation, sometimes referred to as nonpartisanship and usually in the context of a two-party system (especially those of the United States and some other Western countries), in which opposing political parties find common ground through compromise. In multi-partisan electoral systems or in situations where multiple parties work together, it is called multipartisanship. Partisanship is the antonym, where an individual or political party adheres only to its interests without compromise.

Web Search Results
  • Bipartisanship: Overview | Research Starters - EBSCO

    Bipartisanship refers to the collaboration between two political parties to create mutually agreeable public policies, often arising from a need to compromise on critical issues. This practice is typically more common during times of crisis, such as wars or economic downturns, as parties may seek to address urgent challenges together. In the context of the United States, bipartisanship is often rare due to the strong ideological divides between the liberal and conservative bases of the two [...] As its etymology suggests, bipartisanship is a condition rooted in a two-party system, wherein both parties create policy that is commonly agreeable. Bipartisanship is frequently the rhetorical goal of political candidates—President George W. Bush frequently called for it during his State of the Union addresses. His successor, Barack Obama, made similar statements throughout his time as president. However, in both administrations, bipartisanship mostly proved elusive. President Obama, for [...] Bipartisanship occurs in government when two political parties compromise to develop public policy that is mutually agreeable. In this condition, the two parties work together on the language that will appear in such bills and in a combined effort as the legislation works through the legislative process. Bipartisan legislation or policies are typically moderate in nature or address critical issues using methods both parties find acceptable. Often, bipartisanship occurs during periods of crisis,

  • Bipartisanship in United States politics - Wikipedia

    According to political analyst James Fallows in _The Atlantic_ (based on a "note from someone with many decades' experience in national politics"), bipartisanship is a phenomenon belonging to a two-party system such as the political system of the United States and does not apply to a parliamentary system (such as Great Britain) since the minority party is not involved in helping write legislation or voting for it. Fallows argues that in a two-party system, the minority party can be [...] A call for bipartisanship is often made by presidents who "can't get their way in Congress," according to one view.( Military policies of the Cold War and actions like the Iraq War were promoted and supported, through the mass media, as bipartisan acts.( See also [edit] Gridlock (politics) "Gridlock (politics)") Problem Solvers Caucus, consisting of members of both major parties in Congress Uniparty References [edit] [...] More recently, this was also shown in the case of President George H. W. Bush's administration, which began with an atmosphere of bipartisanship on foreign policy in Washington. During this period, the concept of bipartisanship implied a consensus not only between the two parties but also the executive and legislative branches of the government to implement foreign policy. This was seen in the article _Bipartisan Objectives for American Foreign Policy_, authored by Henry Kissinger, President

  • How Bipartisanship Has Worked in the Past: Case Studies - No Labels

    Throughout American history, bipartisanship has played a crucial role in driving meaningful progress. While political differences tend to dominate headlines, some of the most impactful policies have emerged when leaders from both parties worked together to find common ground. Though compromise is necessary, bipartisan cooperation has led to landmark legislation that has strengthened democracy, expanded economic opportunity, and improved the lives of millions of Americans. [...] Bipartisanship isn’t just about the past –it’s a roadmap for the future. The achievements outlined above outline times when leaders work together, tackle the nation’s biggest challenges and create lasting change. From civil rights to economic stability and investing in critical infrastructure and innovation, these milestones serve as reminders that progress is possible when we bridge divides rather than widen them. [...] At No Labels, we believe that problem-solving should come before party loyalty. The following case studies highlight major moments when bipartisanship overcame division to deliver real results. These successes prove that when leaders put the country first, real progress happens. GET INVOLVED:Sign up to receive emailsfrom No Labels Here are 10 examples of major bipartisan successes in U.S. history:

  • What Is Bipartisan Governance? (Explainer) - No Labels

    Bipartisan governance is about cooperation—leaders from different political parties working together to craft and pass policies that serve the broader interests of the public rather than just their respective party bases—it’s about putting reason and the public good over hate and division. ## What is Bipartisan Governance? Bipartisanship refers to a governing approach that requires the following tenants: [...] Bipartisan governance doesn’t require elected officials to abandon their principles. It does however require them to be pragmatic and to recognize that in politics, as in life, one side rarely gets everything it wants. While the challenges of bipartisanship are significant, the benefits—lasting policy, reduced polarization, and greater government effectiveness—make it a worthy pursuit. As the country faces pressing challenges, the path forward isn’t more division—it’s more collaboration. [...] This approach contrasts partisan politics, where decisions are often driven by strict party allegiance rather than pragmatic problem solving. True bipartisanship requires negotiation, understanding, and a willingness to put country before party. ## Why Does Bipartisanship Matter?

  • [PDF] Are Bipartisan Lawmakers More Effective?

    advancement of legislative proposals, in line with our hypotheses. The concept of bipartisanship, in contrast, could mean different things to different people. Consistently voting for bills that are offered by members of the opposing party, issuing public statements in support of members of the opposing party, and (in rare cases) helping to advance the election (or reelection) efforts of out-partisans might all be deemed to be meaningful indicators of legislators’ bipartisan activities inside [...] and often behind the scenes. But why do members of Congress even bother being bipartisan anymore? Here we offer one important answer. Bipartisanship works. Members who can attract support from across the aisle have a greater chance of moving their agenda items through committee and into law. In his final State of the Union address in 2016, President Barack Obama noted the importance of bipartisanship in bringing about legislative accomplishments and addressing policy problems: “The future we [...] Bipartisanship and Legislative Effectiveness Hypothesis, the aggregate LES measure may mask important underlying variance. Specifically, bipartisanship may be more important in some stages of the lawmaking process than in others. Thankfully, the component parts of the Legislative Effectiveness Score allow us to explore this issue. In particular, the LES focuses on five stages of lawmaking, from the number of bills a member sponsors (BILLS) to how many of those receive action in committee (AIC)

Bipartisanship, sometimes referred to as nonpartisanship, is a political situation, usually in the context of a two-party system (especially those of the United States and some other western countries), in which opposing political parties find common ground through compromise. In multi-partisan electoral systems or in situations where multiple parties work together, it is called multipartisanship. Partisanship is the antonym, where an individual or political party adheres only to its interests without compromise.