bipartisan compromise
Both parties concede
Bipartisan compromise is an agreement reached between opposing political parties, typically in the American two-party system.
The phrase often carries a weary or skeptical tone—something frequently invoked but rarely achieved: Voters say they want bipartisan compromise, but reward politicians who fight.
Critics note it can mean each side getting half of what they want, or both sides abandoning principles.
- consensusGeneral group agreement
- negotiateDiscuss to reach agreement
- meet halfwayConcede equally to agree
- agreementShared position between parties
- dealAgreement or distribution
reach across · backroom deal · grand bargain · handshake · shake hands · good faith · aisle · both sides · moderate · centrist · unity · bridge · coalition · concession · middleground · cooperation · truce · olive branch
bipartisan compromiseparty-line vote
Voting aligned with faction
partisan gridlock · one-party rule · unilateral action · partisan warfare · political tribalism
bipartisan compromiseintransigence
Refusal to compromise
ideological purity · obstruction · stonewalling · filibuster · take-it-or-leave-it
bipartisan, compromise, partisan, partisans, bipartisanship, parties, partial, impartial, partition