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Do you think it is better when one party controls both the presidency and Congress; better when control is split between the Democrats and Republicans, or doesn’t it matter?
One-party control versus split control of government · Asked in 10 waves, 1992–2024 · 34,097 responses · weighted estimates computed from individual responses
Codes that include 'no Pre/Post IW' were dropped for respondents without that interview. Dropped as not asked: -1 'Inapplicable (unlisted code)'. Kept and flagged: -9 (other_missing), -8 (dk).
Dashed lines mark changes in how interviews were done, which can shift answers: 1. → mixed mode (2012).
Shares of people who gave an answer. Each column is one wave, evenly spaced rather than to scale in time; hover for exact shares.
| Group | One party control both | Control is split | It doesn’t matter | n | MoE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All respondents |
| Poll | Field dates | Mode | Respondents | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANES 2024 Time Series Study Source variable: V241220. | 2024-08-03 to 2025-02-17 | mixed | 5,521 | 5,266 |
| ANES 2020 Time Series Study Source variable: V201227. | 2020-08-18 to 2021-01-04 | mixed | 8,280 | 8,272 |
| ANES 2016 Time Series Study Source variable: V161136. | 2016-09-07 to 2017-01-09 | mixed | 4,270 | 4,267 |
| ANES 2012 Time Series Study Source variable: divgov_splitgov. | 2012-09-09 to 2013-01-13 | mixed | 5,914 | 5,909 |
| ANES 2008 Time Series Study Source variable: V083053. | 2008-09-02 to 2008-12-30 | face to face | 2,322 | 2,321 |
| ANES 2004 Time Series Study Source variable: V043060. | 2004-09-07 to 2004-12-19 | face to face | 1,212 | 1,212 |
| ANES 2002 Time Series Study Source variable: V023021. | 2002-09-18 to 2002-12-06 | phone | 1,511 | 1,508 |
| ANES 2000 Time Series Study |
Dashed lines mark changes in how interviews were done, which can shift answers: 1. → mixed mode (2012).
Shares of people who gave an answer. A group’s column is left blank in waves where its effective sample is under 50; hover for exact shares.
| 32% |
| 48% |
| 20% |
| 5266 |
| ±2 |
| Democrats | 40% | 42% | 18% | 1861 | ±3 |
| Independents (incl. leaners) | 19% | 56% | 25% | 1724 | ±3 |
| Republicans | 38% | 45% | 17% | 1649 | ±3 |
ANES 2024 Time Series Study · US citizens 18+ (face-to-face samples: contiguous 48 states and DC; web samples: 50 states and DC). Shares of people who gave an answer. n is unweighted; ± is the 95% margin of error at 50% from the weighted effective sample. Groups with an effective sample under 50 are grayed; under 20, hidden.
| 2000-09-05 to 2000-12-22 |
| mixed |
| 1,807 |
| 1,806 |
| ANES 1998 Time Series Study Source variable: V980426. | 1998-11-04 to 1998-12-23 | mixed | 1,281 | 1,281 |
| ANES 1992 Time Series Study Source variable: V925732. | 1992-09-02 to 1993-01-16 | mixed | 2,485 | 2,255 |