partisanship 2.3

Question 1

Divided government

Answer 1

when the House of Representatives, Senate and presidency are not all controlled by one party.

Question 2

Unified government

Answer 2

where both Houses of Congress and the presidency are controlled by people from the same political party.

Question 3

what are the implications of a ‘divided government’ for partisanship

Answer 3

• president might fail to provide significant leadership
• Congress could obstruct a president’s policy initiatives,

Question 4

what are the implications of a ‘unified government’ for partisanship

Answer 4

• increase in the power of the presidency
• congress fail to provide significant checks on the executive. (like when Bush was in office)

Question 5

what are three changes to congress in recent years

Answer 5

• importance of foreign and military policy (declare war)
• The nationalisation of mid-term elections has centralised greater power in the hands of the House speaker.
• partisanship