From NBC's Pete Williams

In official parlance, they’re called “spending gaps,” a term the experts prefer to “government shutdown,” because the government doesn’t fully shut down. They’ve been imposed 17 times since 1976, the year Congress began its revised budgeting process.

PAST FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS

Year Beginning date Length in Days Ending date

(at midnight)

1976 Thursday, Sept 30 10 Monday, Oct 11

1977 Friday, Sept 30 12 Thursday, Oct 13

Monday, Oct 31 8 Wednesday, Nov 9

Wednesday, Nov 30 8 Friday, Dec 9

1978 Saturday, Sept 30 17 Wednesday, Oct 18

1979 Sunday, Sept 30 11 Friday, Oct 12

1981 Friday, Nov 20 2 Monday, Nov 23

1982 Thursday, Sept 30 1 Saturday, Oct 2

Friday, Dec 17 3 Tuesday, Dec 21

1983 Thursday, Nov 10 3 Monday, Nov 14

1984 Sunday, Sept 30 2 Wednesday, Oct 3

Wednesday, Oct 3 1 Friday, Oct 5

1986 Thursday, Oct 16 1 Saturday, Oct 18

1987 Friday, Dec 18 1 Sunday, Dec 20

1990 Friday, Oct 5 3 Tuesday, Oct 9

1995 Monday, Nov 13 5 Sunday, Nov 19

Friday, Dec 15 21 Saturday, Jan 6, 1996