Why government shutdowns are so common in the U.S.

When it comes to shutdowns, the U.S. is very much an exception rather than the rule. Other Western democracies experience polarization and political turmoil, too, yet do not experience this problem. In the British system, government shutdowns just don't happen — in fact, there has never been one and likely never will be. Yet, the Constitution grants Congress the power of the purse — that is, the power to tax and spend. Thresholds to pass a budgetCongress and the U.K. Parliament also differ when it comes to their voting rules.