Hyperpartisanship and the First Hundred Days

Abstract

Abstract The troubled presidential transition of 2020–21 necessitates a renewed look at how rising partisanship has affected new administrations in the 21st century. Examining legislative output, confirmation votes, and executive orders during the first hundred days from 1953 to 2021, we show that there has been a decline in opposition party cooperation with newly elected presidents since the era of polarized parties and insecure majorities began. Our evidence suggests that strategic party behavior, as well as ideological polarization, has limited the ability of transition planning to foster early presidential success.