What a 50-50 Senate Means, for Biden and for the U.S.: QuickTake

Full Democratic control of the levers of federal lawmaking under President-elect Joe Biden will rest on the slimmest-possible advantage in the U.S. Senate, where party-line votes will result in 50-50 ties. The even Senate split, rare in American history, gives the incoming Biden administration little margin for error and may require a power-sharing agreement on some administrative matters.

1. Who controls a 50-50 Senate?

The party of the vice president, who acts as president of the Senate and breaks ties when they occur. That will be the Democratic Party after Biden is inaugurated as president and Kamala Harris becomes vice ...