This 60-second animation shows how divided Congress has become over the last 60 years

It's news to no one that Congress has had a hard time passing legislation in recent years. Some have even asserted that partisanship in Washington has reached historic levels. But how do we put the current divide in perspective? A group of researchers recently tried to quantify and visualize House partisanship in a paper published in PLoS ONE.

--------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------

Business Insider is the fastest growing business news site in the US. Our mission: to tell you all you need to know about the big world around you. The BI Video team focuses on technology, strategy and science with an emphasis on unique storytelling and data that appeals to the next generation of leaders – the digital generation.

[pairdice]

It's pretty obvious the zygote is undergoing mitosis in order for the nascent organism to develop. The question is, what will it develop into?

[robertw]

So basically we work together a lot less then we used to... That's actually pretty sad.

[p.j.c.l.]

You really need to appreciate the beauty of this presentation of data

[nrjank]

Really needs an update. I'm sure the picture hasn't improved.

[skx]

The 85th congress was so agreeable. Shows how far back in progress we've gone.

[Inigogoboots]

I still re-watch this video occasionally and share it with my friends. It's good to be able to visualize how truly divided it has become.

[jakeplays]

The parties weren't as defined before, there was more variation but I also think it has to do with more direct party control. (If you don't vote a certain way, you don't get funding) and corruption and money in politics, but what people don't seem to realize is nowadays bipartisan legislation is legislation that screws the American people. The only thing they can agree about is corporate welfare and more intervention

[jaridkeen]

We need a new Government with more then 2 Partys. We need a system like England a multiparty system.

[gilsery]

Hey Business Insider, can we get an updated version of this please?

[DakotaofRaptors]

"You need both wings to fly" - some Polish chicken.

[ozarkian]

Thanks Ronny Raygun, your legacy lives on!!!

[chromeneoaxiom]

83 is when the split starts, 91 is when it becomes undeniable

[dancthegr]

The division in America is the kind of thing that would lead to a civil war

[englishtea]

It started to get divided after Nixon's presidency (1975)
it got more divided during the last few years of HW Bush (1991)
and was truly divided during W Bush's presidency (2003)
No I am not blaming the Republicans

[Brian-wldj]

Coincides with the rise of the Internet and Information Age

[thesaltyfrog]

what program do you use to edit and animate the video?

[askewedchimp]

This is actually more the result of extremely gerrymandered districts more than anything else. Well, that and poor ethics and business intervention in the political system.

[ForeverGoth]

the chasm widens and echoes deeper than ever before

[CodyEngel]

Interesting. Ronald Reagan was elected in 1981 and that was the year where things began to see a true divide. By 1989 there was quite a large divide which continued to where we are today.

[deeps]

Any chance of getting a similar visualization to include the past 10 years?