Government and Politics

Poll Finds More Voters Liking Divided Government

A recent poll by the Pew Research Center reveals a startling trend: the increased percentage of voters who want the White House and Congress controlled by different parties. Some analysts see this as a sign that people are uncomfortable with political activism and want the safeguards political competition can sometimes offer.

  • The proportion of voters who want the two branches to be under the control of different parties has risen from 23 percent in May 1992 to 34 percent in March 1998.

  • Meanwhile, those who want the same party to control both Congress and the presidency has dropped from 26 percent to 19 percent.

  • The proportion who responded that the issue doesn't matter, or who had no opinion, fell from 51 percent to 47 percent.

Source: Editorial, "Gridlock Is Good Government," Investor's Business Daily, June 10, 1998.

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