ABSTRACT
This chapter summarizes the lack of flexibility and, indeed, outright resistance to compromise and change that the US separation of powers system encourages among many congressional conservatives. As an examination of data from exit polls suggests, Donald Trump's unorthodox package of positions probably helped give him the relatively high level of support he developed across the spectrum of conservative primary voters. Clearly, Trump has shaken up Republican and conservative politics and, certainly if he wins the 2016 election, American politics as well. In the interpretation of the rise of Trump, Republicans in Congress, while cheered on by many leaders and media figures of the conservative movement as they denounced Obama and at times obstructed the operation of the government, eventually came across as ineffective or worse. Many have speculated about the role of de-industrialization on the success of Trump's efforts to gain the Republican nomination.
