Question

How might partisanship help to diminish the exercise of congressional power over the presidency?

Answer 1

Division = no action--Congressional power comes from agreement and partisanship reduces agreement in Congress. 

Partisanship means political parties refuse to work together and will vote on party lines. If Congress wants power over the president they must be able to get majority to override a veto or pass bills. If Congress is split then they will not have that power over the presidency. 

Answer 2

Partisanship represents the division between political parties. This division is caused because some disagreement between the parties and none of them wants to admit that the opinion of the other is better. This diminishes Congress' exercise of power over the presidency because parties can not come to a conclusion about approving or disapproving serious initiatives in Congress and the presidency. This is because in order for an initiative proposed by the president to be approved at the congress, the senators must conclude whether or not the initiative should be approved. But partisanship prevents them from reaching this conclusion because they only fight and each wants to defend something different.