In U.S. politics, the two major parties, the Republicans and the Democrats, are sometimes called ""the two sides of the aisle."" Differing ideas about how government should run can cause gridlock in politics, and that often makes the news. However, democratic governments couldn't work at all without some politicians "reaching across the aisle" to cooperate and compromise. This timely set presents accessible biographies of the most influential politicians of today from both sides of the aisle, people whose policies and agendas will have an impact on Americans for years to come.