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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteBipartisan means involving, approved by, or supported by two political parties. In U.S. politics, it usually refers to Democrats and Republicans working together or backing the same goal. The agreement may be limited to one issue; it does not mean the parties agree on everything.
What does bipartisan mean?
The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum defines bipartisan as “approved by two political parties, or including representatives of two political parties.” Its example is a foreign policy supported by most Democrats and Republicans. Read the Truman Library’s Dictionary of Government Terms.
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The word is broader than U.S. party politics. The Parliament of Australia describes bipartisanship as agreement or congruence between government and opposition parties on particular issues, while noting that the term can be ambiguous. See the Parliament of Australia’s explanation.
In a study of political messages, Pew Research Center uses “bipartisan” for messages suggesting Democrats and Republicans are, or should be, working together in good faith toward a shared goal. That is a definition for analyzing political messaging, not a universal legal test for legislation. Read Pew’s terminology appendix.
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What are the potential benefits of bipartisanship?
- It can build agreement around a shared goal. Working across party lines may help lawmakers find common ground on a particular issue.
- It can broaden a proposal’s coalition. Support from members of both parties may give a proposal backing beyond the party that introduced it.
- It may help a bill advance through the legislative process. In Congress, a bill generally must pass both chambers in identical form and receive the president’s signature, or be repassed over a presidential veto. The U.S. Senate explains how legislation becomes law.
These are possible advantages, not guarantees. Bipartisan support alone does not prove a policy is more effective, fair, popular, or likely to become law.
How can you tell whether a bill is meaningfully bipartisan?
There is no single agreed threshold for calling a bill bipartisan. PolitiFact’s 2020 discussion notes that even one vote from the other party can satisfy a minimal definition, but that is weak evidence of broad cooperation. Read PolitiFact’s explanation of the measurement problem.
Rank #2
When evaluating a claim, identify what kind of support is being counted. These measures are not interchangeable:
- Breadth: How many members of each party support the measure? Is the cross-party support substantial or limited to a small number of members?
- Stage: Is the evidence based on cosponsors, a committee vote, a procedural vote, or final passage?
- Process: Did members of both parties help draft or negotiate the proposal, or did cross-party support appear only later?
- Scope: Is agreement limited to one provision or goal, or does it extend to the bill as a whole?
Examples of bipartisan use
A law with “bipartisan” in its title
The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 is an example of a federal law whose title uses the word. The title illustrates the term’s use, but it does not by itself establish how many members of each party supported the act or how negotiations unfolded. An archived Boundless educational reference identifies the act.
Rank #3
A bill supported by members of both parties
A bill may be described as bipartisan because members of both parties cosponsor it, vote for it, or participate in negotiating it. To understand the strength of the claim, look for the specific evidence and stage: one cross-party cosponsor is not the same as broad support at final passage or substantial participation in developing the bill.
A shared-goal message
A statement that Democrats and Republicans should work together toward a common policy goal fits Pew Research Center’s definition of bipartisan messaging, even if no bill has yet been introduced or passed.
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