November 4, 1980: United States elections: Reagan/Bush defeated Carter/Mondale. Republicans gain control of the Senate; the first time Republicans gain control of either chamber since 1954.

In the United States, divided government describes a situation in which one party controls the executive branch while another party controls one or both houses of the legislative branch. Opponents, however, argue that divided governments become lethargic, leading to many gridlocks.

The 1978 United States elections were held on November 7, 1978 to elect the members of the 96th United States Congress. The election occurred in the middle of Democratic President Jimmy Carter’s term. Democrats retained control of both houses of Congress.

1980 United States Senate elections

Congress Overview Democrats regained control of the Senate and held the House after the 1986 elections.

Republicans retained the Senate and White House, and Democrats maintained their House majority despite Republican gains there in the 1984 election.

1984 United States Senate elections: Republicans retained Senate, but lost 2 seats. 1984 United States House of Representatives elections: Democrats retained House, but lost 16 seats.

Congress Overview Republicans maintained control of the Senate, and Democrats added to their House majority after the 1982 elections. The growing budget deficit stymied the 98th Congress (1983–1985). Budget legislation passed in one chamber could not to pass in the other.

Congress Overview Republicans retained their congressional majorities after the 1996 election, and President Bill Clinton won re-election. The 105th Congress (1997–1999) began with a bipartisan budget agreement and tax cut.

November 8, 1994: Republican Revolution: The Republican Party won control of both the House and the Senate in midterm congressional elections, the first time in 40 years the Republicans secured control of both houses of Congress.

Congress Overview Republicans swept into the White House and took over the Senate after the 1980 elections. Democrats maintained a diminished House majority.

Majority and Minority Leaders

The Democrats nonetheless retained a significant majority, unlike the Senate elections, where Republicans gained control of the chamber….1980 United States House of Representatives elections.

2000 United States House of Representatives elections

The 2000 election also produced for the first time a Senate with 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats. This placed the Senate under Democratic control for the initial 17 days of the new Congress, with outgoing Vice President Al Gore providing the tie-breaking vote on organizational matters.

The apportionment of seats in the House was based on the 2000 U.S. Census. The Democratic Party won a majority in both chambers, giving them full control of Congress for the first time since the 103rd Congress in 1993, which also the last time they controlled the House.