The aim of this article is to consider the divided government situation on the budget legislative process in 1999-2000 in the U.S.A. during the presidency of W.J. Clinton. The salvation of next tasks is provided for getting this aim - to analyze the process of the federal budget approving on the years 2000 and 2001, to trace the Republican party influence on the final decision on budget question. The source base of the research was annual Congressional Records, Congressional Quarterly Almanac and information in American periodicals depicting the domestic policy of W.J. Clinton. During the research the author came to the next conclusions. The role of the Republican opposition in getting the final decision is shown in the article. The upcoming presidential elections influenced the conclusion on the budget question and the intention of the congressmen not to enter any confrontations. The amount of 1,8 bln. doll. was offered on the 2000 budget project, and the surplus must have been be about 827 bln. doll. in next five years. The republican's reaction on the presidential project was to reduce taxes and to increase the rest of the budget. In this case the legislative and the executive powers were to come to the compromise. Finally the U.S. budget for the year 2000 was signed on November, 30, 1999. It consisted of the Republican plan and the requirements of the president and the Democrats of using the surplus on foreign policy and social needs. Federal budget for the 2001 fiscal year was approved in the middle of the year. This fact showed that the legislators often postpone its discussion because of the 2000 presidential campaign. But despite this, the legislators decided not to postpone the discussion of the budget project thinking about the previous year debates and about the debates of the year 1995 when the so-called "budget war" was erupted. The president made his proposals according to the principal of balanced federal budget. The 1 bln. doll. surplus was expected and it should be a benefit for the president and Congress decision of its distribution. So the 2001 budget was approved fast enough. The opposing forces found possibilities in fast understanding of this question and in August, 2000 entered the active phase of the election debates.
