While the founders of our republic did not imagine political parties as we know them, they expected factions in politics to work to allow the system to function. For some years now, that has not been the case. In fact, our political and social divisions seem to be growing with no sign of relief. The cost of the constant division is a Congress that cannot function.
One powerful reason for the failure is that Congress has adopted practices that prevent the will of the majority to rule. Beginning in the mid-1990s, the Republican leaders in the House of Representatives adopted the “majority of the majority” rule now known as the Hastert Rule. That rule prevents an issue from coming to a vote unless a majority of the ruling party agrees; thus, even though more than half of each party may agree, the matter cannot come to a vote.
Now matters have taken a turn for the worse. Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in the Senate has refused to allow issues to come to a vote unless the president will accept them. Not only does this practice frustrate any true majority in Congress, it removes the constitutional device of a veto override by which the Congress can assert the majority will over a president who disagrees.
It is small wonder that the political system cannot function when partisan redistricting distorts representation in Congress and congressional rules distort the voting processes.
RICHARD A. HESSE
Hopkinton