Divided Government and the Presidency: Eisenhower to Clinton

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Divided Government and the Presidency Eisenhower
to Clinton
Kraig Grahmann
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What is Divided Government?
Occurs when one political party controls the
presidency while the other is the majority in the
House, Senate, or both.
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Presidents and Divided/Unified Government
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Causes of Divided Government

• Voters prefer balanced government
• Voter Independence
• Movement to the ideological center
• Incumbency Advantage
• Gerrymandering
• High number of Republican presidents

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Research Areas

• Impact
• Change
• Tools

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Impact of Divided Government House Concurrence
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Impact of Divided Government Senate Concurrence
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Divided Government Over Time
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Change in Divided Government Support by Party
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Change in Divided Government Ideological
Differences
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Change in Divided Government Position Taking
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Tools for Managing Divided Government Marginal
Coattails
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Tools for Managing Divided Government Veto Power
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Tools for Managing Divided Government Veto
Threats
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Tools for Managing Divided Government Executive
Orders
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Tools for Managing Divided Government Executive
Agreements