If the government comes out at midnight, it would be the 18th time it will have happened -- ever.

Government shutdown 2011

Since 1976, when the new congressional budget process has been effective, there have been 17 arrests by the government. In official terms, they are actually called "holes of the expense."

According to a report by the Congressional Research Service published in 2010, during the period of 34 years beginning in fiscal year 1977-2010, the 17 people arrested ranged in "period from one day to 21 full days."

"About half of these gaps in financing were short (eg three days or less duration)," the report said. "Of these, most occurred during a weekend and federal interference in the operations has been minimal."

Between 1977 and 1992, 15 arrests - or "funding gap" - has occurred, compared with only two between 1993 and 2010. These, of course, are the 1995/1996 spacers between President Clinton and Republicans in Congress.