A Divided Senate: Bipartisan Harmony or Legislative Discord?

As the Senate approaches the end of its first 100 days, questions still remain about how the chamber will perform during a 50-50 partisan split among its members. While some see the even divide between Democrats and Republicans as an opportunity for increased bipartisanship and productive debate, other observers wonder if constructive deliberation is still an option.

This Brookings forum will focus on a new Brookings book, Esteemed Colleagues: Civility and Deliberation in the U.S. Senate, edited by Burdett Loomis of the Robert J. Dole Institute, and feature a panel of congressional experts-including a veteran senator-who will examine what the Senate has accomplished thus far, and whether the partisan divide is a recipe for a legislative stalemate or a chance for real work to be done.

Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) will provide the opening remarks, which will be followed by a panel discussion with Burdett Loomis, Brookings Governmental Studies Fellows Thomas Mann and Sarah Binder, and James Thurber of American University.