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| US midterm elections: What is divided government and what's the impact? | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Democrats currently control all three branches of government - but that could change after the US midterms | The Democrats currently control all three branches of government - but that could change after the US midterms |
| With both parties vying for control of the House of Representatives and the Senate, a "divided government" remains a distinct possibility in the US. | With both parties vying for control of the House of Representatives and the Senate, a "divided government" remains a distinct possibility in the US. |
| The term refers to a situation where one or both chambers of Congress are controlled by a party that stands in opposition to the incumbent president. | The term refers to a situation where one or both chambers of Congress are controlled by a party that stands in opposition to the incumbent president. |
| Divided governments have been fairly common since the 1970s - most recently during Donald Trump's second term, where Democrats controlled the House. | Divided governments have been fairly common since the 1970s - most recently during Donald Trump's second term, where Democrats controlled the House. |
| What would such a situation mean when it comes to passing legislation and getting things done? | What would such a situation mean when it comes to passing legislation and getting things done? |
| In the US, each chamber can initiate legislation. A version of the draft bill has to be passed by both, before being sent to the president to sign into law. | |
| A bill can die at any stage if one chamber of Congress votes against it, or if the president vetoes the law. | |
| Some people support a divided government because it means each political party can police the other, for instance controlling unwanted spending measures or blocking certain bills from become law. | Some people support a divided government because it means each political party can police the other, for instance controlling unwanted spending measures or blocking certain bills from become law. |
| Recently, Elon Musk advised his millions of Twitter followers to vote Republican in the midterms, given that President Joe Biden is a Democrat. | Recently, Elon Musk advised his millions of Twitter followers to vote Republican in the midterms, given that President Joe Biden is a Democrat. |
| His rationale, he said, was that "shared power curbs the worst excesses of both parties". | His rationale, he said, was that "shared power curbs the worst excesses of both parties". |
| Divided governments can force lawmakers to draft laws that have a broader base of support, making them harder to undo when power power changes hands. In this situation, co-operation brings about political stability. | Divided governments can force lawmakers to draft laws that have a broader base of support, making them harder to undo when power power changes hands. In this situation, co-operation brings about political stability. |
| But when parties are polarised in their positions, a divided government can make it impossible for one party to pass legislation, leading to gridlock - effectively making it difficult to move forward on policy. | But when parties are polarised in their positions, a divided government can make it impossible for one party to pass legislation, leading to gridlock - effectively making it difficult to move forward on policy. |
| Big sweeping policy changes, however, have often happened under single-party government, such as President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal and President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, colloquially known as Obamacare. | Big sweeping policy changes, however, have often happened under single-party government, such as President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal and President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, colloquially known as Obamacare. |
| Divided governments can also lead to more government shutdowns - where parties cannot agree a budget to continue government funding. | Divided governments can also lead to more government shutdowns - where parties cannot agree a budget to continue government funding. |