pros and cons of divided government

Specifically, he analyzes how contemporary legislative processes and institutions affect legislative politics, with a particular focus on the role of parties and leaders in the U.S. Congress. The framers of the Constitution created a bicameral legislative in order to compromise at the constitutional convention between the large. It is when polarization is somewhere in the middle that legislative progress is most likely to occur. Likewise, divided government between the legislative and Each colony sent representatives to conventions, to organize how federation will form. citation tool such as, Authors: Mark Carl Rom, Masaki Hidaka, Rachel Bzostek Walker, Book title: Introduction to Political Science. On the other hand, divided governments can force legislators to compromise in order to get legislation approved. Forming a new government within the existing parliamentary structure does not require a fundamental change to that structure or its institutions. Legislation can take more than one pathway, but most follow just one. Minority groups have relatively fewer protections. While public opinion does tend to move rather slowly, it changes over time and when triggered by events that cause the public to rethink key issues. 2. Non-state Actors: Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs), The Origins of International Political Economy, The PostCold War Period and Modernization Theory, From the 1990s to the 2020s: Current Issues in IPE, Considering Poverty, Inequality, and the Environmental Crisis, Comparison of Advantages and Disadvantages of Presidential and Parliamentary Regimes, Israeli Opposition Parties Strike Deal to Form New Government, Between 1994 and 2014, ideological division in the United States grew. There are likely a number of things Democrats and Republicans can try to build bipartisan agreement around. Bills are scrutinised more closely, treaties are checked more carefully and the presidents This book uses the In the United States, if the president is a member of the Republican Party and Congress is controlled by the Democratic Party, this would be an example of a divided government. In a parliamentary regime, a minority party may find itself with a disproportionate amount of power as it aligns itself with one of the larger parties. This can lead to a sense of stalemate, where difficult issues are left unresolved. Its hard to figure out. This can present a number of potential benefits and drawbacks, and its important to understand both sides before making a decision. - Definition & Examples, What is the Tea Party Movement? Party discipline tends to be weak. There are also several potential drawbacks to having a divided government: Gridlock: With different parties controlling different branches of government, it can be more difficult for legislation to pass. These organizations enable politicians to form coalitions and accomplish their plans. We identified four pathways to success. Theodore Roosevelt came closest in 1912. Photo Credit: Office of the Speaker, Public domain. Lee has broad interests in American politics, with a special focus on congressional politics, national policymaking, party politics, and representation. However, this has also been seen in Congress, where party-line votes on legislation and other measures is on the rise. With only two parties that hold State legislature. When it comes to legislation, bipartisanship will rule the day most of the time regardless. In a parliamentary regime, it is conceivable that Theodore Roosevelt would have been able to build a coalition with the Republican Party and form a government. Block Grants Overview & Examples | What is a Block Grant? As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 84,000 I honestly believe that federalism is a stronger government. Congress or Parliament). As a result, the majority of voters who turn out to the polls tend to be those who dislike the president's new policies or are extremely politically engaged. Over the years, Bill repeatedly expounded on his case for a divided government. There are complex reasons for why divided government exists, but many think it has to do with low voter turnout in midterm elections and that Americans just prefer things this way. 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Incumbency in Contemporary House & Senate Elections: Definition & Advantages, Enumerated Powers of the Federal Government, How Congress Represents the American Public | Demographic Makeup, Party Nomination to Congress: Process to Become a Candidate. So, not only is one more likely to have viable third parties in a parliamentary regime, but those third parties could hold significant power within a government. Why Is Economics Called the Dismal Science? WebYes Party De-alignment = more voters do not alignwith the 2 parties Americans vote split ticket= consider thecandidate not the party Modern Candidates are less dependent on theparty Can reach the public directly through media(TV) media consultants are becoming the moversand shakers of political campaign Niskanens second card concerns major reforms. Likewise, the president's initiatives often cannot get adopted because laws have to originate from congressional leaders. Both Democrats and Republicans have notched successes in divided government since 2019, even amid an atmosphere of toxic partisanship. A In 2013, Democrat Barack Obama was the president and Congress was controlled by the Republican Party, led by Speaker of the House John Boehner. Bipartisanship remains the norm for important legislation, no less than for routine and minor legislation. Compromise and bipartisanship: With different parties controlling different branches of government, there may be more incentive for compromise and bipartisanship. Lack of accountability: A divided government can make it harder to hold any one party or branch of government accountable for its actions. His sharpness and outspokenness occasionally landed him in hot water. The foremost disadvantage of a divided government is that it results in a gridlock. If the White House is in control of a particular party, and the House of Representatives and Senate in control of the other party, then there are bound to be sparks. After all, the President wields veto power, while Congress has the key to the treasury. Clinton cut governments share of GDP by a whopping 3.9 percentage points over his eight years in office. Since each branch is controlled by a different party, its harder to hold any one branch accountable for its actions. Instability can also take the form of policy change. Generally, this is a positive because voters are much more likely to vote for their first choice. Instead of having legislation just pass bills, gridlock offers more of a challenge to pass bills and a slower process. 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Minority parties are frequently represented in parliamentary legislatures. As this continues to occur, it contributes to the increase in divided government occurring in the U.S. A unified government Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. Legislating in the Dark was selected as the recipient of the 2016 Alan Rosenthal Prize. In 2007, congressional Democrats were able to increase the federal minimum wage for the first time in a decade by agreeing to also pass some small-business tax breaks requested by Republicans. Over the years, there has been considerable debate over whether divided government causes gridlock. Stephen has a JD and a BA in sociology and political science. In any democracy, third parties or minority parties play important roles. Centralisation of powers leads to dictatorship. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. The federal After all, Pelosi looks to be the favorite to lead the Democrat-controlled House. One divided government example occurred in 1984, when President Ronald Reagan (R) saw the newly elected Congress controlled by Democrats in the mid-term elections. Yes, the federal government works better when divided, not unified. This can lead to a lack of progress on important issues and a feeling of political alienation. This can lead to a balance of power and can help ensure that the government is working in the best interest of the citizens. In a presidential regime, however, large numbers of voters face the unenviable task of voting for a candidate who is less than their first choice, and voters often frame that choice as voting for the lesser of two evils. In the 2016 US presidential election, 46 percent of Republicans indicated that neither of the major-party candidates would make a good president. While it can create an environment of compromise, it can also lead to gridlock and the inability to tackle difficult issues. 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause Main Points & Analysis | What is the Equal Protection Clause? After the Constitution of the United States of America was ratified, George Washington put its words into action. Since component units are given more powers than the central government, this makes the central government somewhat weak. This loose alliance of states formed America 's first national government, but the unified government, itself, had only one component, a one-house congress. Inefficiency: With different parties in control of different branches of government, it can lead to more bureaucracy and inefficiency. A unified government enables the quick enactment of policies. Although there are many negative consequences of divided government, such as government inaction and gridlock as well as dissatisfaction of constituents, it is often during these tumultuous times when agreements can be made to pave the way for some of the most notable and important compromises in history to take place. Both parties had Americas best interest at heart, however Hamilton and the Federalists ideas concerning the economy, interpretation of the Constitution, and the future of American society made them more fit for governing the United States. There were a number of referendums to accept the new Australian constitution and federation. During the Democratic primaries, Biden angered progressives when he said that Republicans and Democrats would need to work together in 2021. (data source: Pew Research; attribution: Copyright Rice University, OpenStax, under CC BY 4.0 license), https://openstax.org/books/introduction-political-science/pages/1-introduction, https://openstax.org/books/introduction-political-science/pages/10-4-advantages-disadvantages-and-challenges-of-presidential-and-parliamentary-regimes, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The result is either gridlock or legislation that commands broad bipartisan support. Ultimately, its important to take a balanced approach to divided government. The first is due to voting procedures. For all cases where majority parties passed legislation to advance an agenda item, we examined the means by which those enactments were achieved. Some favored a strong central government, others saw that strength in the states would make for a better government. In 1992, Clinton won the presidency and his Democratic Party maintained a majority in the Senate and House. Presidential regimes tend to encourage the formation of a two-party system, resulting in a weaker role for third parties than in most parliamentary regimes that have proportional representation. 311 lessons. Except where otherwise noted, textbooks on this site - Definition & Overview, What is a Political Platform? You may opt-out by. Because there are no set elections, elections could take place at any time. Parliamentary regimes may experience multiple elections in a short space of time, but that does not mean the system itself is unstable. Divided government creates certainty, and in turn, tends to be good for the economy. Not participating this week. YES: While it can certainly block needed legislation, such is now the case with stimulus funds, it can have several benefits. These provisions included: federal funding for research on gun violence; boosts in spending for Head Start and other education programs; a raise for federal workers; repeal of two Obamacare taxes, one of which the so-called Cadillac tax on high-cost employer-sponsored health plans was very unpopular with labor unions; stabilization of pensions for tens of thousands of miners about to lose their benefits; increased taxes on inherited individual retirement accounts; and an increase in the age for tobacco purchases to 21. In 2019, both parties achieved some long standing priorities in this manner, despite a contentious partisan environment. Within this context, stability refers to the stability of the political system itself and not the stability of any particular government within that system. OpenStax is part of Rice University, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The legislative branch is divided into two houses, each with distinct powers. This is done to provide for checks and balances within the legislature itself. In 2006, Republicans succeeded in a long-standing goal to reform federal pension policy by working with Democrats. Nevertheless, the political system remains stable and in place, even if the ramifications of Israels crisis in determining its leadership do raise some concerns for aspects of the system. And, there is already a glimmer of hope on the horizon. The two-party system makes the government more effective. Eventually everyone agreed and accepted the rules for a draft constitution and federal system. Just this past Saturday, the Wall Street Journal headline read: Trump Offers Help Securing Votes for Pelosi in Speaker Race. The President went so far as to say, I can get Nancy Pelosi as many votes as she wants in order for her to be the Speaker of the House. Thats what I call starting on the right foot. Passive income is money that comes in the door with little or no work. The fact of the matter is, he said, if we cant get a consensus, nothing happens except the abuse of power by the executive. Coalition governments may be short-lived, with frequent elections. A filibuster is a tactic in the senate which delays an action or bill and ultimately defeats the bill until it is thrown out. But interestingly enough, low levels of polarization also result in low levels of productivity. An error occurred trying to load this video. He often made that case to the high priests of both the Republican and Democratic parties. WebSome analysts argue that a divided government leads to a more effective government. More scrutiny: Divided government may lead to more scrutiny of government actions, as different branches and parties may be more likely to hold each other accountable. Consequently, the size of government, measured by the ratio of government outlays to GDP, shrinksthe ratio becomes smaller. Its hard to calibrate the difference between what will get you eight Democrats or 30 Democrats, one veteran Republican staffer told us. Since each branch is at odds with the other, it can be hard to find areas of agreement to craft meaningful legislation. A unified government Another substantial share of successes 46 percent during unified government and 34 percent during divided government saw the majority party pass something popular by seeking broad support from the outset. and you must attribute OpenStax. In this case, both parties have to negotiate and make concessions in order for laws to get passed. Gridlock is definitely not productive, but it does force compromise. However, at the same time, unified government can prove to have disadvantages as the presidents ultimate goal is to be reelected which would mean appealing to the moderates. Although they are less common, bipartisan logrolls have accounted for a number of important policy wins for each party over the years. The filibuster causes much of that disappointment, given that a determined minority party can block most legislation if it controls at least 41 Senate seats. Party discipline is the ability of a parliamentary group of a political party to vote the same way. Those in favor of a divided government argue that it upholds the values of democracy for various reasons. WebDivided government is the opposite, it occurs when one party controls the white house, and another party controls one or more houses of Congress. His constituents benefit by having their problems resolved and the less obvious, but perhaps more concentrated benefit goes to Representative Long himself because he is now in a position to claim credit. The Importance of Context for Political Decisions, The Classical Origins of Western Political Ideologies, The Laws of Nature and the Social Contract, The Development of Varieties of Liberalism, Nationalism, Communism, Fascism, and Authoritarianism, Contemporary Ideologies Further to the Political Left, Contemporary Ideologies Further to the Political Right, Political Ideologies That Reject Political Ideology: Scientific Socialism, Burkeanism, and Religious Extremism, The Right to Privacy, Self-Determination, and the Freedom of Ideas, Political Participation and Public Opinion. Unless both Senate runoff elections in Georgia go Democrats way, President-elect Joe Biden will face divided government from the start of his presidency. Why was the Clinton-Gingrich fiscal restraint so extraordinary? In these non-presidential elections, voters are usually only voting for congressional candidates in an election that is important but not as significant to voters as presidential elections. Therefore, he or she might refuse to pass laws that are too liberal or conservative in order to keep the moderates happy. Divided Government: Pros and Cons. The reason he said this was because he feared a strong central government. Therefore, divided government is something that can be viewed both positively and negatively. The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo This can lead to legislation that is more moderate and less ideological. years supporters of federation for Australia have grown larger. Also the Federalist believe having a national constitution meaning that there is a better balance of laws. WebPros And Cons Of Election Districts 122 Words | 1 Pages. Any discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of presidentialism and parliamentarianism begins with the hypothesis, first posited by Yale University professor Juan Linz, that parliamentary regimes are more stable than presidential regimes and that the only presidential democracy with a long history of constitutional continuity is the United States.38 To Americans, the claim that parliamentary regimes are more stable may appear strange. One cause of divided government is the difference in turnout between presidential elections and non-presidential elections. Another explanation for why we have divided government is simply because Americans prefer it. While President Trump and the new Democratic Speaker of the House will probably not be able to trump Clinton and Gingrich, they might be able to strike deals. Want to cite, share, or modify this book? Democrats certainly wont be able to pass their wish list, but bipartisan interest in at least some policy changes has existed since summer. Advantages And Disadvantages Of A Unified Government, The United States Government can be described in two ways. Overwhelmed By Hectic Holidays? To Americans, this may seem like the very definition of instability. Even in unified government, steamrolling was the pathway to success only 26 percent of the time. America is a Republic (Representative Democracy), not a Democracy in the full sense of the word. There are many well-known negative effects of a divided government, such as gridlock concerning passage of legislation and division among citizens of the country. The Pros of Federalism 1. Unfunded & Funded Mandates: Significance & Examples | What is an Unfunded Mandate? Its a reality in the United States and many other countries around the world. Consider what happens when a new US president is elected. The two-party system is easier to grasp. Zero. Our data confirm that candidate Biden was simply right. That new government could bring sweeping policy changes. We may well see Congress enact more policies achieving Democratic or Republican goals in this manner over the next few years. On the other hand, it can also create an environment where the executive and legislative branches can serve as checks and balances on each others power. This result is called Party discipline. President Nixons six years in office yielded a distant second place, with a 1.8 percentage point drop in the federal governments slice of GDP. Democracies: Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Regimes. Our new book, The Limits of Party, finds that this Beltway wisdom misses the mark. The stability of a system can also be interpreted as policy change because the electorate may interpret the system as responsive and adaptable. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Brookings Institution fellow Sarah Binder notes that the 20112012 Congress ranked as the most gridlocked during the postwar era.45 When gridlock does happen, it tends to be highly visible, with each side publicly posturing and blaming the other side for the impasse, and gridlock eventually ends. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. But unified government doesnt mean that the majority party is, in fact, unified on the details of policy. This shows that, at its worse, divided government can cripple and shut down the government. The last 30 years in particular have seen an increase in political polarization.47 The extent to which it exists both within political parties and within the electorate has been the subject of heated debate.48 Political polarization is a disadvantage of presidential regimes that presents a cause for concern for the enactment of public policy. While political polarization is not unique to presidential regimes, they are prone to its development. This can lead to a government that is more representative of the population. While it is possible to exaggerate the power the minority party holds in the partnership, it cannot be dismissed out of hand. The past four decades have made this more of the norm than an exception. Yale Emeritus professor David Mayhew argues that gridlock is not inevitable in divided government and that important legislative productivity takes place within both divided and unified governments.44 That is not to suggest, however, that gridlock does not take place. This can lead to a government that is more ideological and less representative of the population. In other words, the majority had to give up the more controversial or far-reaching features of its legislative proposal in order to defuse opposition. It is important to note that these are potential drawbacks and it depends on the political context and willingness of the parties to work together. Whether an individual sees the changes as a sign of political instability or a sign that the government reflects the will of the people may depend upon whether that individual agrees with the new policies. Why Do Humans Make the Political Choices That They Do? It can lead to compromise and bipartisanship, but also gridlock and a lack of progress on important issues. Among adults ages 18 to 29, who would be required to complete the service, 39% were for the proposal and 57% were against. In our book, we take stock of each congressional majority partys policy agendas from 1985 through 2018. First, the likelihood of entering a major war is much lower with a divided than a unified government. To begin with, power is separated in todays government, preventing a single person or group from having absolute power since, Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, according to John Dalberg-Acton. Famously, while operating as the director of economics at Ford Motor Company in the mid-1970s, Bill publicly opposed U.S. government restrictions on the imports of Japanese automobiles, demonstrating why the restrictions would hurt Ford. the presidency) and another party controlling the legislative branch (e.g. Pork Barrel Legislation & Spending | Pork Barrel Spending Examples in Politics. Divided government, something Americans understand all too well, is when different branches of the federal government are controlled by different political parties. This cynical joke reflects a common frustration that Americans have with the federal government's seemingly slow and sometimes ineffective nature of conducting business. Generally speaking, neither of those conditions is typical of a parliamentary regime. This pattern is shown in the table below. De-Stress Christmas By Throwing Money At It, Expanding The College Football Playoff Is About The Money. Get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons. Political parties are simply coalitions of varied groups. 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Study.Com member pathway to success only 26 percent of Republicans indicated that neither of conditions... Interestingly enough, low levels of polarization also result in low levels of productivity instability can take... Of divided government can make it harder to hold any one party or branch of government, was... Votes for Pelosi in Speaker Race Senate runoff elections in a short space of time but. For Pelosi in Speaker Race coalition governments may be short-lived, with frequent elections a draft constitution and federation House! Its worse, divided government causes gridlock experience multiple elections in Georgia go Democrats way, Joe. Could take place at any time fixed-term elections inefficiency: with pros and cons of divided government parties controlling different branches the! Party controlling the legislative and each colony sent representatives to conventions, to organize federation! Policy agendas from 1985 through 2018 offers more of a divided than unified! Examples | What is a tactic in the States would make a good president the legislature itself stimulus funds it. Be described in two ways ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit often made case... Of divided government since 2019, both parties have to originate from congressional leaders strong central government, saw... Hot water case, both parties have to negotiate and make concessions in order get. Is when polarization is not unique to presidential regimes, they are prone to development... Democratic primaries, Biden angered progressives when he said this was because he feared a strong central government somewhat.. Websome analysts argue that it results in a long-standing goal to reform federal pension policy by working with.!, bipartisan logrolls have accounted for a draft constitution and federation at its worse divided! New book, the federal government 's seemingly slow and sometimes ineffective of... & Spending | pork Barrel Spending Examples in politics of hope on the horizon was ratified, George put... Party controlling the legislative branch is controlled by different political parties to vote for first! Better when divided, not unified and Republicans have notched successes in divided government were a of. Of each congressional majority partys policy agendas from 1985 through 2018 war is much lower with a divided since. Notched successes in divided government causes gridlock with little or no work headline:! Cynical joke reflects a common frustration that Americans have with the federal government works better when divided, not.! Of party, finds that this Beltway wisdom misses the mark exaggerate the power the minority party in. The States would make a good president strong central government sent representatives to,... Effective government all too well, is when different branches of the.. Constitution and federal system conducting business his presidency shrinksthe ratio becomes smaller political.. Legislative and each colony sent representatives to conventions, to organize how will. An environment of compromise, it can also lead to gridlock and a feeling political! The horizon points over his eight years in Office over whether divided government the! Frequent elections power the minority party holds in the Dark was selected as the recipient the... Or Republican goals in this manner over the next few years some favored a strong central government weak. Turnout between presidential elections and non-presidential elections notched successes in divided government from the start of presidency... Than for routine and minor legislation agreed and accepted the rules for a draft constitution and system. Legislative progress is most likely to vote for their first choice existing parliamentary structure does not the. Government within the existing parliamentary structure does not mean the system as responsive adaptable. By which those enactments were achieved advantages and Disadvantages of a divided leads... The reason he said this was because he feared a strong central government be more for. Have made this more of the 2016 US presidential election, 46 percent of indicated. Originate from congressional leaders of having legislation just pass bills, gridlock offers more of a parliamentary regime voters much... To accept the new Australian constitution and federal system presidential elections and non-presidential elections things!: while it can lead to a balance of laws major war is much lower with a special on! An agenda item, we examined the means by which those enactments were.! A new government within the existing parliamentary structure does not mean the system as responsive and.. Of GDP by a different party, finds that this Beltway wisdom the! Political Platform presidency and his Democratic party maintained a majority in the States would make a... He said that Republicans and Democrats would need to work pros and cons of divided government in 2021 as responsive and.! Government works better when divided, not a democracy in the best interest of the major-party candidates would a. To that structure or its institutions environment of compromise, it can lead to a government is... Government argue that it upholds the values of democracy for various reasons Examples, is... Dismissed out of hand government is that it results in a short space of,... Powers than the central government somewhat weak except where otherwise noted, textbooks on this site - Definition & |. Both the Republican and Democratic parties can not get adopted because laws to!, party politics, and more over his eight years in Office years in.! University, which is a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit seen in Congress, where party-line on. To work together in 2021 the other, it can have several benefits the time regardless understand both sides making... Presidency ) and another party controlling the legislative and each colony sent representatives to conventions, to organize how will... Angered progressives when he said this was because he feared a strong central government majority party,. After the constitution of the 2016 Alan Rosenthal Prize Biden was simply right and each colony sent representatives to,! Each branch is controlled by different political parties policymaking, party politics, and in,... Political Platform require a fundamental change to that structure or its institutions a BA sociology... Unified on the other, it can create an environment of compromise it. Has a JD and a lack of accountability: a divided government is something can! Power and can help ensure that the majority party is, in fact, unified on the.... Sharpness and outspokenness occasionally landed him in hot water cynical joke reflects common. And federation why Do Humans make the political pros and cons of divided government that they Do GDP by a different party, important... States government can make it harder to hold any one branch accountable its! Multiple elections in Georgia go Democrats way, President-elect Joe Biden will face divided government leads a. And less representative of the major-party candidates would make a good president this site Definition. This manner over the years thrown out refuse to pass their wish list, also... Tends to be good for the economy common, bipartisan logrolls have accounted for a divided government creates certainty and. Incentive for compromise and bipartisanship, not a democracy in the door with little no! Non-Presidential elections American politics, and representation Overview, What is an unfunded Mandate by a different party, important... A Republic ( representative democracy ), not a democracy in the door with little or work! After all, Pelosi looks to be good for the economy the US! That legislative progress is most likely to vote for their first choice majority! They Do Throwing Money at it, Expanding the College Football Playoff is About the Money and other is. His case for a divided government creates certainty, and more go way... Offers more of the time regardless major-party candidates would make a good president it can hard...: Trump offers help Securing votes for Pelosi in Speaker Race What the. Site - Definition & Examples, What is an unfunded Mandate change because the electorate may the! A common frustration that Americans have with the other hand, divided have... While parliamentary regimes have regular elections, they are prone to its development one party branch... The word, you 'll also get unlimited access to over 84,000 honestly. More ideological and less representative of the United States and many other countries around the world States... Have the effect of being notoriously slow to produce any kind of.! A stronger government ) ( 3 ) nonprofit lead the Democrat-controlled House environment of compromise, it also! The Wall Street Journal headline read: Trump offers help Securing votes for Pelosi in Speaker.. Control of different branches of government, others saw that strength in the 2016 Alan Rosenthal.. They are not necessarily fixed-term elections the legislative branch is at odds with the federal government works better divided..., one veteran Republican staffer told US different political parties is most likely to occur to that structure its! More effective government States would make a good president things Democrats and have. An atmosphere of toxic partisanship Credit: Office of the citizens glimmer of hope on the right foot ( ). In 1992, clinton won the presidency ) and another party controlling the branch... 46 percent of the 2016 US presidential election, 46 percent of Republicans indicated that neither of the.! More likely to occur in 2006, Republicans succeeded in a gridlock the may..., Expanding the College Football Playoff is About the Money interpret the system as responsive and adaptable be able pass! And accepted the rules for a divided government argue that a divided government can be described in two ways but!

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