# Divided government definition

> How party control splits between president and Congress creates divided government.
- Title: Divided government definition · USAFacts | Shortify
- Summary: How party control splits between president and Congress creates divided government. Divided government occurs when one party controls the presidency while…
- Keywords: divided government, unified government, congress, president, house of representatives, senate, party control, news, politics, money, Divided, government
- Source: USAFacts — https://usafacts.org/articles/divided-government-definition
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: divided government, unified government, congress, president, house of representatives, senate, party control, news, politics, money
## Divided government definition
A divided government exists when party control is split between the president and one or both chambers of Congress.
## What divided government means
One party holds the presidency while the other holds the majority in at least one chamber.
## Congress structure
Congress has two chambers, the US House and the US Senate. Voters elect the president and members of Congress separately.
## Current congressional control
In the 119th Congress (2025, 2027), Republicans hold the presidency, 220 of the 435 House seats, and 53 of the 100 Senate seats.
## Why divided government happens
Congressional elections happen every two years. All 435 House seats are on the ballot each time.
## Examples of divided government
Voters elected a Democratic president in 2020 and gave Republicans a House majority in the 2022 midterm elections.
## Key takeaway

Divided government occurs when one party controls the presidency while another holds a majority in at least one chamber of Congress.