James Wallner

James Wallner is one of the hosts of the podcast series Politics in Question. He is a senior fellow at the R Street Institute, where he researches and writes about the theory and practice of democratic politics with an emphasis on Congress, political parties, and the federal policy process. He also teaches in the Department of Political Science at Clemson University. James is the author of three books: The Death of Deliberation: Gridlock and the Politics of Effort in the United States Senate (Lexington Books, 2020), On Parliamentary War: Partisan Conflict and Procedural Change in the United States Senate (University of Michigan Press, 2017), and The Death of Deliberation: Partisanship and Polarization in the United States Senate (Lexington Books, 2013). He has a Ph.D. in politics from the Catholic University of America.

The first edition of The Death of Deliberation: Partisanship and Polarization in the United States Senate revealed how the Senate legislates in a combative environment. Yet it has been unable to legislate in recent years. Since 2013, the Senate has become more dysfunctional, and gridlock has increased. The 115th Congress was one of the least productive two-year stretches in the Senate’s history. The most recent edition of The Death of Deliberation, published in 2020, accounts for the dramatic increase in legislative gridlock. In a testimonial of this book, James A. Thurber, Distinguished Professor at American University writes James Wallner challenges conventional wisdom about the U.S. Senate in this extraordinary and systemic view of how the Senate passes legislation in its current polarized environment. He answers why gridlock does not occur on those occasions when the Senate legislates by showing the emergence of a powerful and centralized party leadership in Congress. Wallner’s unique contribution reveals the extent to which partisan cooperation coexists even with deep ideological disagreement among rank-and-file senators. Using extensive data analysis and case studies, he proposes a theory of “structured consent” which explains how polarization actually produces stronger leaders. He argues that the majority and minority leaders perform a moderating function by acting within certain bounds to reduce the conflict and instability inherent in the current Senate’s environment. This is a book that should be required of all classes on Congress and for anyone (especially U.S. Senators) interested in how the modern-day Senate works.

Outside of his podcast and publications, Wallner has appeared on a variety of media programs to discuss his books and other contemporary political issues. These programs include programs such as the Washington Journal on C-Span. Through hosting the ‘Politics in Question’ podcast, his books and articles, and speaking engagements, James Wallner seeks to address complicated questions about partisan gridlock, and find ways to restore America’s legislative system.

James Wallner researches and writes about the theory and practice of democratic politics with an emphasis on Congress, political parties, and the federal policy process.

• Gridlock and the Politics of Effort in the United States Senate
• Partisan Conflict and Procedural Change in the United States Senate
• Partisanship and Polarization in the United States Senate
• Restoring America’s legislative system

Congressional Operations During Coronavirus

Available for viewing from the Washington Journal on C-Span

Understanding and Misunderstanding the Filibuster

Available for viewing on R Street Institute

James Wallner challenges conventional wisdom about the U.S. Senate in this extraordinary and systemic view of how the Senate passes legislation in its current polarized environment. [His] book that should be required of all classes on Congress and for anyone (especially U.S. Senators) interested in how the modern-day Senate works.

- James A. Thurber, Distinguished Professor at American University