A Republican win in either the House or Senate, or both, could mean gridlock and political conflict -- and plenty of it.
Republican majorities would slam the brakes on Obama's legislative agenda, but would find it nearly impossible to pass new initiatives that did not have considerable Democratic support.
Even if Republicans muscled partisan bills through the House, Democrats in the Senate would be able to block them through either majority votes or a procedural tactic that takes 60 votes to overcome.
That could mean Republicans will be forced to work with moderate Democrats in both chambers if they want to pass legislation -- particularly since Obama will be waiting to veto any bill that does not pass muster among Democrats.
Republican majorities would put House leader John Boehner and Senate leader Mitch McConnell in charge, and they would set the agendas for their chambers while trying to manage more conservative Republican caucuses.
Republicans also would run committees and gain subpoena power that would make it easy to investigate the Obama administration and force witnesses to testify.
