United States Presidents And Control Of Congress
In United States history, the degree to which the President's political party has control over the House of Representatives and Senate often determines his political strength - such as the ability to pass sponsored legislation, ratify treaties, and have Cabinet members and judges approved. Moreover, it appears to have a strong effect on his historical ranking, especially in conjunction with years served and number of elections won.
Of the top 18 presidents in the 2000 Wall Street Journal poll, all had:
- both houses for 100% of their time in office except, of the top six, Washington, and of the remaining twelve, Adams, James Polk, Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan.
- the house for at least 75% of their time in office except Polk, Eisenhower and Reagan.
- the senate for at least 75% of their time in office except Adams, Cleveland and Eisenhower.
- won two elections and/or served more than four years except Adams, Polk and John F. Kennedy.
- the inclusion of all full-term presidents who controlled both houses except Martin Van Buren, Calvin Coolidge and Jimmy Carter.
Many presidents' elections produced what is known as a coattail effect, in which the success of a presidential candidate also leads to electoral success for other members of his or her party. In fact, all newly-elected presidents except Zachary Taylor, Richard Nixon and George H. W. Bush were accompanied by control of at least one house of Congress.
Other ways of referring to "control of the Congress", include "majority party in power," "composition of each chamber", "history of the House of Representatives", "composition of Congress", "control of Congress timeline," "control of Congress through the years," "main party in power" and "historical control or power of the Senate."
Read more about United States Presidents And Control Of Congress: Emphasized Relationship of Main Table, Comparing Presidential Ranking With Congressional Control and Terms Won/served
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