# Divided government

Part of the Politics series :
Party politics :
Political Spectrum
Left-Wing
Far-LeftCentre-Left
Centre
Centre-LeftRadical CentreCentre-Right
Right-Wing
Centre-RightFar-Right :
Major Ideologies
Agrarianism
Anarchism
Christian democracy
Communism
Conservatism
Environmentalism
Fascism
Feminism
Green politics
Hindutva
Islamism
Liberalism
Libertarianism
Monarchism
Nationalism
Populism
Progressivism
Classical radicalism
Republicanism
Social democracy
Socialism
Syncretism
Third Way :
Types
Bloc party
Elite party
Cartel party
Competitive
Catch-all party
Entrepreneurial party
Ethnic party
Major party / Minor party
Mass party
Ruling party
Opposition party
Parliamentary opposition
Party of power
Official party status
Single-issue party
Transnational / International :
Leaders and organization
Backbencher
Caucus
Caucus chair
Frontbencher
Lead candidate
Leader of the Opposition
Majority leader
Minority leader
Political faction
Parliamentary leader
Party chair
Party leader
Party spokesperson
Secretary
Shadow cabinet
Whip :
Internal elections
Primary election
Leadership election
Open list
Party convention/conference
Leadership convention :
Party discipline
Conscience vote
Crossing the floor
Party discipline
Party line
Party-line vote
Party switching :
Party systems
One-party
Dominant-partyTwo-partyMulti-party
Non-partisan :
Coalitions between parties
Parliamentary group
Divided government
Coalition government
Confidence and supply
Consensus government
Grand coalition
Hung parliament
Majority government
Minority government
National unity government
Rotation government :
Lists of political parties
Ruling parties by country
Political parties by region
Banned political parties :
Politics portal :
vte :
A divided government is a type of government in presidential systems, when control of the executive branch and the legislative branch is split between two political parties, respectively, and in semi-presidential systems, when the executive branch itself is split between two parties. The former can also occur in parliamentary systems but is often not relevant since if the executive does not satisfy or comply with the demands of parliament, parliament can force the executive to resign via a motion of no confidence.

## Presidential systems

Under the separation of powers model, the state is divided into different branches. Each branch has separate and independent powers and areas of responsibility so that the powers of one branch are not in conflict with the powers associated with the others. The typical division creates an executive branch that executes and enforces the law as led by a head of state, typically a president; a legislative branch that enacts, amends, or repeals laws as led by a unicameral or bicameral legislature; and a judiciary branch that interprets and applies the law as led by a supreme court.
Divided governments are seen by different groups as a benefit or as an undesirable product of said separations. Those in favor of divided government believe that the separations encourage more policing of those in power by the opposition, as well as limiting spending and the expansion of undesirable laws. Opponents, however, argue that divided governments become lethargic, leading to many gridlocks. In the late 1980s, Terry M. Moe, a professor of political science at Stanford University, examined the issue. He concluded that divided governments lead to compromise which can be seen as beneficial. But he also noticed that divided governments subvert performance and politicize the decisions of executive agencies. Additionally, further research has shown that during divided governments, legislatures will pass laws with sunset provisions in order to achieve a political consensus.
In the United States, divided government was rare in during the early 20th century, but has become more common since the 1970s. Divided governments are contrasted by government trifectas—a different situation in which the one party controls the executive and both chambers of a bicameral legislature. Due to the ubiquity of bicameralism in the United States, trifectas can happen at the federal level and in 49 out of the 50 U.S. states.

## Semi-presidential systems

In systems with a strong president and prime minister, such as in France, divided government is known as cohabitation. In cohabitation, executive power is divided between a president of one party and a cabinet of government ministers of another. Cohabitation occurs because of the duality of the executive: an independently elected president and a prime minister who must be acceptable both to this president and to the legislature.