Representation and Gridlock

Identify several causes of gridlock. Is gridlock an appropriate representation of the will of the people, or is it the result of so many arcane rules that the Congress will never be effective?

Gridlock is usually a result of having a "divided government", in which one party occupies the Senate while the other occupies the executive office. When an issue arises, especially in a time of national crisis, quick action may sometime be required on behalf of the government. The question then is taken to the Senate, where a bicameral legislature must vote to approve a bill or law which is question. If the bill is proposed by the president, then a disagreeing Senate can start a filabuster, essentially killing the bill through inaction. The inverse can occur when the Senate sends a bill to the presidential office for approval, and the president may choose to veto the bill. Essentially, gridlock is this point in which both sides pursue their own interests and effectively bring a halt to progress.

There is no direct solution to gridlock, because first and foremost it is a result of the checks and balances, inherent to Republican government, which keep one power from becoming dominant. Without such a system there would be no end to the policies of specific branches. On the other hand, such limitations make passage of legislation in a time of crisis, when action is critical, very difficult to achieve. While these specific arguing sides may represent the respective people that they are associated with, the will of the people does not include a lack of action due to politics.