Divided government in the United States
Updated: 11/6/2025, 1:50:00 AM Wikipedia source
In the United States of America, divided government describes a situation in which one party controls the White House (executive branch), while another party controls one or both houses of the United States Congress (legislative branch). Divided government is seen by different groups as a benefit or as an undesirable product of the model of governance used in the U.S. political system. Under said model, known as the separation of powers, 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 degree to which the president of the United States has control of Congress often determines their political strength, such as the ability to pass sponsored legislation, ratify treaties, and have Cabinet members and judges approved. Early in the 19th century, divided government was rare. Since the 1970s it has become increasingly common.
Tables
· Party control of legislative and executive branches › List
1857–1859
1857–1859
Year
1857–1859
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
President
Buchanan
1859–1861
1859–1861
Year
1859–1861
Senate
D
House
R
Presidentparty
D
1861–1863
1861–1863
Year
1861–1863
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
President
Lincoln
1863–1865
1863–1865
Year
1863–1865
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
1865–1867
1865–1867
Year
1865–1867
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
D
President
A. Johnson
1867–1869
1867–1869
Year
1867–1869
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
D
1869–1871
1869–1871
Year
1869–1871
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
President
Grant
1871–1873
1871–1873
Year
1871–1873
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
1873–1875
1873–1875
Year
1873–1875
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
1875–1877
1875–1877
Year
1875–1877
Senate
R
House
D
Presidentparty
R
1877–1879
1877–1879
Year
1877–1879
Senate
R
House
D
Presidentparty
R
President
Hayes
1879–1881
1879–1881
Year
1879–1881
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
R
1881–1883
1881–1883
Year
1881–1883
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
President
Garfield / Arthur
1883–1885
1883–1885
Year
1883–1885
Senate
R
House
D
Presidentparty
R
President
Arthur
1885–1887
1885–1887
Year
1885–1887
Senate
R
House
D
Presidentparty
D
President
Cleveland
1887–1889
1887–1889
Year
1887–1889
Senate
R
House
D
Presidentparty
D
1889–1891
1889–1891
Year
1889–1891
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
President
Harrison
1891–1893
1891–1893
Year
1891–1893
Senate
R
House
D
Presidentparty
R
1893–1895
1893–1895
Year
1893–1895
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
President
Cleveland
1895–1897
1895–1897
Year
1895–1897
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
D
1897–1899
1897–1899
Year
1897–1899
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
President
McKinley
1899–1901
1899–1901
Year
1899–1901
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
1901–1903
1901–1903
Year
1901–1903
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
President
McKinley / T. Roosevelt
1903–1905
1903–1905
Year
1903–1905
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
President
T. Roosevelt
1905–1907
1905–1907
Year
1905–1907
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
1907–1909
1907–1909
Year
1907–1909
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
1909–1911
1909–1911
Year
1909–1911
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
President
Taft
1911–1913
1911–1913
Year
1911–1913
Senate
R
House
D
Presidentparty
R
1913–1915
1913–1915
Year
1913–1915
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
President
Wilson
1915–1917
1915–1917
Year
1915–1917
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
1917–1919
1917–1919
Year
1917–1919
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
1919–1921
1919–1921
Year
1919–1921
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
D
1921–1923
1921–1923
Year
1921–1923
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
President
Harding
1923–1925
1923–1925
Year
1923–1925
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
President
Harding / Coolidge
1925–1927
1925–1927
Year
1925–1927
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
President
Coolidge
1927–1929
1927–1929
Year
1927–1929
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
1929–1931
1929–1931
Year
1929–1931
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
President
Hoover
1931–1933
1931–1933
Year
1931–1933
Senate
R
House
D
Presidentparty
R
1933–1935
1933–1935
Year
1933–1935
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
President
F. Roosevelt
1935–1937
1935–1937
Year
1935–1937
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
1937–1939
1937–1939
Year
1937–1939
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
1939–1941
1939–1941
Year
1939–1941
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
1941–1943
1941–1943
Year
1941–1943
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
1943–1945
1943–1945
Year
1943–1945
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
1945–1947
1945–1947
Year
1945–1947
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
President
F. Roosevelt / Truman
1947–1949
1947–1949
Year
1947–1949
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
D
President
Truman
1949–1951
1949–1951
Year
1949–1951
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
1951–1953
1951–1953
Year
1951–1953
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
1953–1955
1953–1955
Year
1953–1955
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
President
Eisenhower
1955–1957
1955–1957
Year
1955–1957
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
R
1957–1959
1957–1959
Year
1957–1959
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
R
1959–1961
1959–1961
Year
1959–1961
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
R
1961–1963
1961–1963
Year
1961–1963
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
President
Kennedy
1963–1965
1963–1965
Year
1963–1965
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
President
Kennedy / Johnson
1965–1967
1965–1967
Year
1965–1967
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
President
Johnson
1967–1969
1967–1969
Year
1967–1969
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
1969–1971
1969–1971
Year
1969–1971
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
R
President
Nixon
1971–1973
1971–1973
Year
1971–1973
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
R
1973–1975
1973–1975
Year
1973–1975
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
R
President
Nixon / Ford
1975–1977
1975–1977
Year
1975–1977
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
R
President
Ford
1977–1979
1977–1979
Year
1977–1979
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
President
Carter
1979–1981
1979–1981
Year
1979–1981
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
1981–1983
1981–1983
Year
1981–1983
Senate
R
House
D
Presidentparty
R
President
Reagan
1983–1985
1983–1985
Year
1983–1985
Senate
R
House
D
Presidentparty
R
1985–1987
1985–1987
Year
1985–1987
Senate
R
House
D
Presidentparty
R
1987–1989
1987–1989
Year
1987–1989
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
R
1989–1991
1989–1991
Year
1989–1991
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
R
President
G.H.W. Bush
1991–1993
1991–1993
Year
1991–1993
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
R
1993–1995
1993–1995
Year
1993–1995
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
President
Clinton
1995–1997
1995–1997
Year
1995–1997
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
D
1997–1999
1997–1999
Year
1997–1999
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
D
1999–2001
1999–2001
Year
1999–2001
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
D
2001–2003
2001–2003
Year
2001–2003
Senate
D
House
R
Presidentparty
R
President
G.W. Bush
2003–2005
2003–2005
Year
2003–2005
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
2005–2007
2005–2007
Year
2005–2007
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
2007–2009
2007–2009
Year
2007–2009
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
R
2009–2011
2009–2011
Year
2009–2011
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
President
Obama
2011–2013
2011–2013
Year
2011–2013
Senate
D
House
R
Presidentparty
D
2013–2015
2013–2015
Year
2013–2015
Senate
D
House
R
Presidentparty
D
2015–2017
2015–2017
Year
2015–2017
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
D
2017–2019
2017–2019
Year
2017–2019
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
President
Trump
2019–2021
2019–2021
Year
2019–2021
Senate
R
House
D
Presidentparty
R
2021–2023
2021–2023
Year
2021–2023
Senate
D
House
D
Presidentparty
D
President
Biden
2023–2025
2023–2025
Year
2023–2025
Senate
D
House
R
Presidentparty
D
2025–2027
2025–2027
Year
2025–2027
Senate
R
House
R
Presidentparty
R
President
Trump
Year
Year
Year
Year
Senate
Senate
House
House
Presidentparty
Presidentparty
President
President
| Year | Senate | House | Presidentparty | President |
| 1857–1859 | D | D | D | Buchanan |
| 1859–1861 | D | R | D | |
| 1861–1863 | R | R | R | Lincoln |
| 1863–1865 | R | R | R | |
| 1865–1867 | R | R | D | A. Johnson |
| 1867–1869 | R | R | D | |
| 1869–1871 | R | R | R | Grant |
| 1871–1873 | R | R | R | |
| 1873–1875 | R | R | R | |
| 1875–1877 | R | D | R | |
| 1877–1879 | R | D | R | Hayes |
| 1879–1881 | D | D | R | |
| 1881–1883 | R | R | R | Garfield / Arthur |
| 1883–1885 | R | D | R | Arthur |
| 1885–1887 | R | D | D | Cleveland |
| 1887–1889 | R | D | D | |
| 1889–1891 | R | R | R | Harrison |
| 1891–1893 | R | D | R | |
| 1893–1895 | D | D | D | Cleveland |
| 1895–1897 | R | R | D | |
| 1897–1899 | R | R | R | McKinley |
| 1899–1901 | R | R | R | |
| 1901–1903 | R | R | R | McKinley / T. Roosevelt |
| 1903–1905 | R | R | R | T. Roosevelt |
| 1905–1907 | R | R | R | |
| 1907–1909 | R | R | R | |
| 1909–1911 | R | R | R | Taft |
| 1911–1913 | R | D | R | |
| 1913–1915 | D | D | D | Wilson |
| 1915–1917 | D | D | D | |
| 1917–1919 | D | D | D | |
| 1919–1921 | R | R | D | |
| 1921–1923 | R | R | R | Harding |
| 1923–1925 | R | R | R | Harding / Coolidge |
| 1925–1927 | R | R | R | Coolidge |
| 1927–1929 | R | R | R | |
| 1929–1931 | R | R | R | Hoover |
| 1931–1933 | R | D | R | |
| 1933–1935 | D | D | D | F. Roosevelt |
| 1935–1937 | D | D | D | |
| 1937–1939 | D | D | D | |
| 1939–1941 | D | D | D | |
| 1941–1943 | D | D | D | |
| 1943–1945 | D | D | D | |
| 1945–1947 | D | D | D | F. Roosevelt / Truman |
| 1947–1949 | R | R | D | Truman |
| 1949–1951 | D | D | D | |
| 1951–1953 | D | D | D | |
| 1953–1955 | R | R | R | Eisenhower |
· Presidents by congressional control and terms
1
1
No.
1
President
George Washington
President's party
None
President's party
2
Elections won
8
Col 7
8
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
4
House with
4
Col 12
4
Congress with
4
Congress divided
0
2
2
No.
2
President
John Adams
President's party
Federalist
President's party
1
Elections won
4
Col 7
4
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
4
House with
0
Col 12
4
Congress with
0
Congress divided
0
3
3
No.
3
President
Thomas Jefferson
President's party
Democratic-Republican
President's party
2
Elections won
8
Col 7
8
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
8
House with
0
Col 12
8
Congress with
0
Congress divided
0
4
4
No.
4
President
James Madison
President's party
Democratic-Republican
President's party
2
Elections won
8
Col 7
8
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
8
House with
0
Col 12
8
Congress with
0
Congress divided
0
5
5
No.
5
President
James Monroe
President's party
Democratic-Republican
President's party
2
Elections won
8
Col 7
8
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
8
House with
0
Col 12
8
Congress with
0
Congress divided
0
6
6
No.
6
President
John Quincy Adams
President's party
Democratic-Republican
President's party
National-Republican
Elections won
1
Years served
4
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
4
House with
2
House opposed
2
Congress with
0
Congress divided
2
Congress opposed
2
7
7
No.
7
President
Andrew Jackson
President's party
Democratic
President's party
2
Elections won
8
Col 7
6
Senate with
2
Senate opposed
8
House with
0
Col 12
6
Congress with
2
Congress divided
0
8
8
No.
8
President
Martin Van Buren
President's party
Democratic
President's party
1
Elections won
4
Col 7
4
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
4
House with
0
Col 12
4
Congress with
0
Congress divided
0
9
9
No.
9
President
William Harrison
President's party
Whig
President's party
1
Elections won
0.1
Col 7
0.1
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
0.1
House with
0
Col 12
0.1
Congress with
0
Congress divided
0
10
10
No.
10
President
John Tyler
President's party
Whig
President's party
Independent
Elections won
0
Years served
3.9
Senate with
3.9
Senate opposed
0
House with
1.9
House opposed
2
Congress with
1.9
Congress divided
2
Congress opposed
0
11
11
No.
11
President
James Polk
President's party
Democratic
President's party
1
Elections won
4
Col 7
4
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
2
House with
2
Col 12
2
Congress with
2
Congress divided
0
12
12
No.
12
President
Zachary Taylor
President's party
Whig
President's party
1
Elections won
1
Col 7
0
Senate with
1
Senate opposed
0
House with
1
Col 12
0
Congress with
0
Congress divided
1
13
13
No.
13
President
Millard Fillmore
President's party
Whig
President's party
0
Elections won
3
Col 7
0
Senate with
3
Senate opposed
0
House with
3
Col 12
0
Congress with
0
Congress divided
3
14
14
No.
14
President
Franklin Pierce
President's party
Democratic
President's party
1
Elections won
4
Col 7
4
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
2
House with
2
Col 12
2
Congress with
2
Congress divided
0
15
15
No.
15
President
James Buchanan
President's party
Democratic
President's party
1
Elections won
4
Col 7
4
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
2
House with
2
Col 12
2
Congress with
2
Congress divided
0
16
16
No.
16
President
Abraham Lincoln
President's party
Republican
President's party
National Union
Elections won
2
Years served
4.1
Senate with
4.1
Senate opposed
0
House with
4.1
House opposed
0
Congress with
4.1
Congress divided
0
Congress opposed
0
17
17
No.
17
President
Andrew Johnson
President's party
National Union
President's party
Democratic
Elections won
0
Years served
3.9
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
3.9
House with
0
House opposed
3.9
Congress with
0
Congress divided
0
Congress opposed
3.9
18
18
No.
18
President
Ulysses Grant
President's party
Republican
President's party
2
Elections won
8
Col 7
8
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
6
House with
2
Col 12
6
Congress with
2
Congress divided
0
19
19
No.
19
President
Rutherford Hayes
President's party
Republican
President's party
1
Elections won
4
Col 7
2
Senate with
2
Senate opposed
0
House with
4
Col 12
0
Congress with
2
Congress divided
2
20
20
No.
20
President
James Garfield
President's party
Republican
President's party
1
Elections won
0.5
Col 7
0
Senate with
0.5
Senate opposed
0.5
House with
0
Col 12
0
Congress with
0.5
Congress divided
0
21
21
No.
21
President
Chester Arthur
President's party
Republican
President's party
0
Elections won
3.5
Col 7
3.5
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
1.5
House with
2
Col 12
1.5
Congress with
2
Congress divided
0
22
22
No.
22
President
Grover Cleveland
President's party
Democratic
President's party
1
Elections won
4
Col 7
0
Senate with
4
Senate opposed
4
House with
0
Col 12
0
Congress with
4
Congress divided
0
23
23
No.
23
President
Benjamin Harrison
President's party
Republican
President's party
1
Elections won
4
Col 7
4
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
2
House with
2
Col 12
2
Congress with
2
Congress divided
0
24
24
No.
24
President
Grover Cleveland
President's party
Democratic
President's party
1
Elections won
4
Col 7
2
Senate with
2
Senate opposed
2
House with
2
Col 12
2
Congress with
0
Congress divided
2
25
25
No.
25
President
William McKinley
President's party
Republican
President's party
2
Elections won
4.5
Col 7
4.5
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
4.5
House with
0
Col 12
4.5
Congress with
0
Congress divided
0
26
26
No.
26
President
Theodore Roosevelt
President's party
Republican
President's party
1
Elections won
7.5
Col 7
7.5
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
7.5
House with
0
Col 12
7.5
Congress with
0
Congress divided
0
27
27
No.
27
President
William Taft
President's party
Republican
President's party
1
Elections won
4
Col 7
4
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
2
House with
2
Col 12
2
Congress with
2
Congress divided
0
28
28
No.
28
President
Woodrow Wilson
President's party
Democratic
President's party
2
Elections won
8
Col 7
6
Senate with
2
Senate opposed
6
House with
2
Col 12
6
Congress with
0
Congress divided
2
29
29
No.
29
President
Warren Harding
President's party
Republican
President's party
1
Elections won
2.4
Col 7
2.4
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
2.4
House with
0
Col 12
2.4
Congress with
0
Congress divided
0
30
30
No.
30
President
Calvin Coolidge
President's party
Republican
President's party
1
Elections won
5.6
Col 7
5.6
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
5.6
House with
0
Col 12
5.6
Congress with
0
Congress divided
0
31
31
No.
31
President
Herbert Hoover
President's party
Republican
President's party
1
Elections won
4
Col 7
4
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
2
House with
2
Col 12
2
Congress with
2
Congress divided
0
32
32
No.
32
President
Franklin Roosevelt
President's party
Democratic
President's party
4
Elections won
12.2
Col 7
12.2
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
12.2
House with
0
Col 12
12.2
Congress with
0
Congress divided
0
33
33
No.
33
President
Harry Truman
President's party
Democratic
President's party
1
Elections won
7.8
Col 7
5.8
Senate with
2
Senate opposed
5.8
House with
2
Col 12
5.8
Congress with
0
Congress divided
2
34
34
No.
34
President
Dwight Eisenhower
President's party
Republican
President's party
2
Elections won
8
Col 7
2
Senate with
6
Senate opposed
2
House with
6
Col 12
2
Congress with
0
Congress divided
6
35
35
No.
35
President
John Kennedy
President's party
Democratic
President's party
1
Elections won
2.8
Col 7
2.8
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
2.8
House with
0
Col 12
2.8
Congress with
0
Congress divided
0
36
36
No.
36
President
Lyndon Johnson
President's party
Democratic
President's party
1
Elections won
5.2
Col 7
5.2
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
5.2
House with
0
Col 12
5.2
Congress with
0
Congress divided
0
37
37
No.
37
President
Richard Nixon
President's party
Republican
President's party
2
Elections won
5.6
Col 7
0
Senate with
5.6
Senate opposed
0
House with
5.6
Col 12
0
Congress with
0
Congress divided
5.6
38
38
No.
38
President
Gerald Ford
President's party
Republican
President's party
0
Elections won
2.4
Col 7
0
Senate with
2.4
Senate opposed
0
House with
2.4
Col 12
0
Congress with
0
Congress divided
2.4
39
39
No.
39
President
Jimmy Carter
President's party
Democratic
President's party
1
Elections won
4
Col 7
4
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
4
House with
0
Col 12
4
Congress with
0
Congress divided
0
40
40
No.
40
President
Ronald Reagan
President's party
Republican
President's party
2
Elections won
8
Col 7
6
Senate with
2
Senate opposed
0
House with
8
Col 12
0
Congress with
6
Congress divided
2
41
41
No.
41
President
George H. W. Bush
President's party
Republican
President's party
1
Elections won
4
Col 7
0
Senate with
4
Senate opposed
0
House with
4
Col 12
0
Congress with
0
Congress divided
4
42
42
No.
42
President
Bill Clinton
President's party
Democratic
President's party
2
Elections won
8
Col 7
2
Senate with
6
Senate opposed
2
House with
6
Col 12
2
Congress with
0
Congress divided
6
43
43
No.
43
President
George W. Bush
President's party
Republican
President's party
2
Elections won
8
Col 7
4.5
Senate with
3.5
Senate opposed
6
House with
2
Col 12
4.5
Congress with
1.5
Congress divided
2
44
44
No.
44
President
Barack Obama
President's party
Democratic
President's party
2
Elections won
8
Col 7
6
Senate with
2
Senate opposed
2
House with
6
Col 12
2
Congress with
4
Congress divided
2
45
45
No.
45
President
Donald Trump
President's party
Republican
President's party
1
Elections won
4
Col 7
4
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
2
House with
2
Col 12
2
Congress with
2
Congress divided
0
46
46
No.
46
President
Joe Biden
President's party
Democratic
President's party
1
Elections won
4
Col 7
4
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
2
House with
2
Col 12
2
Congress with
2
Congress divided
0
47
47
No.
47
President
Donald Trump
President's party
Republican
President's party
1
Elections won
1
Col 7
1
Senate with
0
Senate opposed
1
House with
0
Col 12
1
Congress with
0
Congress divided
0
No.
No.
No.
No.
President
President
President's party
President's party
President's party
Elections won
Elections won
Years served
Col 7
Senate with
Senate with
Senate opposed
Senate opposed
House with
House with
House opposed
Col 12
Congress with
Congress with
Congress divided
Congress divided
Congress opposed
| No. | President | President's party | Elections won | Years served | Senate with | Senate opposed | House with | House opposed | Congress with | Congress divided | Congress opposed | |||
| 1 | George Washington | None | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2 | John Adams | Federalist | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 3 | Thomas Jefferson | Democratic-Republican | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 4 | James Madison | Democratic-Republican | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 5 | James Monroe | Democratic-Republican | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 6 | John Quincy Adams | Democratic-Republican | National-Republican | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 7 | Andrew Jackson | Democratic | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | |||
| 8 | Martin Van Buren | Democratic | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 9 | William Harrison | Whig | 1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 10 | John Tyler | Whig | Independent | 0 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 0 | 1.9 | 2 | 1.9 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 11 | James Polk | Democratic | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |||
| 12 | Zachary Taylor | Whig | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||
| 13 | Millard Fillmore | Whig | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||
| 14 | Franklin Pierce | Democratic | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |||
| 15 | James Buchanan | Democratic | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |||
| 16 | Abraham Lincoln | Republican | National Union | 2 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 0 | 4.1 | 0 | 4.1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 17 | Andrew Johnson | National Union | Democratic | 0 | 3.9 | 0 | 3.9 | 0 | 3.9 | 0 | 0 | 3.9 | ||
| 18 | Ulysses Grant | Republican | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | |||
| 19 | Rutherford Hayes | Republican | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |||
| 20 | James Garfield | Republican | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | |||
| 21 | Chester Arthur | Republican | 0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 0 | 1.5 | 2 | 1.5 | 2 | 0 | |||
| 22 | Grover Cleveland | Democratic | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||
| 23 | Benjamin Harrison | Republican | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |||
| 24 | Grover Cleveland | Democratic | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |||
| 25 | William McKinley | Republican | 2 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 0 | 4.5 | 0 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 26 | Theodore Roosevelt | Republican | 1 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 0 | 7.5 | 0 | 7.5 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 27 | William Taft | Republican | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |||
| 28 | Woodrow Wilson | Democratic | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 2 | |||
| 29 | Warren Harding | Republican | 1 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 0 | 2.4 | 0 | 2.4 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 30 | Calvin Coolidge | Republican | 1 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 0 | 5.6 | 0 | 5.6 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 31 | Herbert Hoover | Republican | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |||
| 32 | Franklin Roosevelt | Democratic | 4 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 0 | 12.2 | 0 | 12.2 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 33 | Harry Truman | Democratic | 1 | 7.8 | 5.8 | 2 | 5.8 | 2 | 5.8 | 0 | 2 | |||
| 34 | Dwight Eisenhower | Republican | 2 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 6 | |||
| 35 | John Kennedy | Democratic | 1 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 0 | 2.8 | 0 | 2.8 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 36 | Lyndon Johnson | Democratic | 1 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 0 | 5.2 | 0 | 5.2 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 37 | Richard Nixon | Republican | 2 | 5.6 | 0 | 5.6 | 0 | 5.6 | 0 | 0 | 5.6 | |||
| 38 | Gerald Ford | Republican | 0 | 2.4 | 0 | 2.4 | 0 | 2.4 | 0 | 0 | 2.4 | |||
| 39 | Jimmy Carter | Democratic | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 40 | Ronald Reagan | Republican | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 2 | |||
| 41 | George H. W. Bush | Republican | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |||
| 42 | Bill Clinton | Democratic | 2 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 6 | |||
| 43 | George W. Bush | Republican | 2 | 8 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 6 | 2 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 2 | |||
| 44 | Barack Obama | Democratic | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 2 | |||
| 45 | Donald Trump | Republican | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |||
| 46 | Joe Biden | Democratic | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |||
| 47 | Donald Trump | Republican | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||
| No. | President | President's party | Elections won | Years served | Senate with | Senate opposed | House with | House opposed | Congress with | Congress divided | Congress opposed | |||
References
- The 1880-81 elections resulted in a 37-37 tie in the Senate, with 1 Readjuster and 1 Independent caucusing with the oppo
- The 1916 elections resulted in the Republican Party winning a plurality of seats, but the Democratic Party formed a coal
- The 1952 elections resulted in a 49-47 Republican majority, but Wayne Morse switched to become an Independent, and vacan
- The 2000 elections resulted in a 50–50 tie in the Senate, and the Constitution gives tie-breaking power to the vice pres
- The 2020 elections resulted in a 50–50 tie in the Senate, and the Constitution gives tie-breaking power to the vice pres
- Carter served the last 17 days of his presidency with a Republican majority Senate.
- Clinton served the last 17 days of his 2nd term with a 50-50 majority in the senate, and the Constitution gives tie-brea
- Cato Institutehttps://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/would-divided-government-be-better
- "The Politics of Bureaucratic Structure"https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247947716
- Social Science Quarterlyhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ssqu.12956
- "Party In Power - Congress and Presidency - A Visual Guide To The Balance of Power In Congress, 1945-2008"https://web.archive.org/web/20121101145605/http://uspolitics.about.com/od/usgovernment/l/bl_party_division_2.htm
- "Chart of Presidents of the United States"https://archive.today/20130123012221/http://www.filibustercartoons.com/prezidents.htm
- "Composition of Congress by Party 1855–2013"http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0774721.html