Those in favor of divided government believe that the separations encourage more policing of those in power by the opposition, as well as limiting spending and the expansion of undesirable laws.
In the late 1980s, Terry M. Moe, a professor of political science at Stanford University, examined the issue.
Additionally, further research has shown that during divided governments, legislatures will pass laws with sunset provisions in order to achieve a political consensus.
In systems with a strong president and prime minister, such as in France, divided government is known as cohabitation.
In cohabitation, executive power is divided between a president of one party and a cabinet of government ministers of another.