United States Presidents and control of Congress

The degree to which the President of the United States's political party has control over the House of Representatives and Senate often determines his or her political strength - such as the ability to pass sponsored legislation, ratify treaties, and have Cabinet members and judges approved.

Party control of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives (including President's party): 1855-2015^[1][2][3]

Presidential impact

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.

Presidents by congressional control and terms won/served

#	President	President's Party	Senate with	Senate opposed	House with	House opposed	Congress with	Congress opposed	Congress divided	Years served	Elections won
1	George Washington	Pro-Administration	8	0	6	2	6	0	2	8	2
2	John Adams	Federalist	4	0	4	0	4	0	0	4	1
3	Thomas Jefferson	Democratic-Republican	8	0	8	0	8	0	0	8	2
4	James Madison	Democratic-Republican	8	0	8	0	8	0	0	8	2
5	James Monroe	Democratic-Republican	8	0	8	0	8	0	0	8	2
6	John Quincy Adams	Adams	2	2	2	2	2	2	0	4	1
7	Andrew Jackson	Jacksonian	8	0	8	0	8	0	0	8	2
8	Martin Van Buren	Democratic	4	0	4	0	4	0	0	4	1
9	William Harrison	Whig	0.1	0	0.1	0	0.1	0	0	0.1	1
10	John Tyler	Whig/Independent	4	0	2	2	2	0	2	4	0
11	James Polk	Democratic	4	0	2	2	2	0	2	4	1
12	Zachary Taylor	Whig	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	1	1
13	Millard Fillmore	Whig	0	3	0	3	0	3	0	3	0
14	Franklin Pierce	Democratic	4	0	2	2	2	0	2	4	1
15	James Buchanan	Democratic	4	0	2	2	2	0	2	4	1
16	Abraham Lincoln	Republican	4	0	4	0	4	0	0	4	2
17	Andrew Johnson	Democratic	0	4	0	4	0	4	0	4	0
18	Ulysses Grant	Republican	8	0	6	2	6	0	2	8	2
19	Rutherford Hayes	Republican	2	2	0	4	0	2	2	4	1
20	James Garfield	Republican	0	0.5	0.5	0	0	0	0.5	0.5	1
21	Chester Arthur	Republican	4	0	2	2	2	0	2	4	0
22	Grover Cleveland	Democratic	0	4	4	0	0	0	4	4	1
23	Benjamin Harrison	Republican	4	0	2	2	2	0	2	4	1
24	Grover Cleveland	Democratic	2	2	2	2	2	2	0	4	1
25	William McKinley	Republican	4.5	0	4.5	0	4.5	0	0	4.5	2
26	Theodore Roosevelt	Republican	7.5	0	7.5	0	7.5	0	0	7.5	1
27	William Taft	Republican	4	0	2	2	2	0	2	4	1
28	Woodrow Wilson	Democratic	6	2	6	2	6	2	0	8	2
29	Warren Harding	Republican	2	0	2	0	2	0	0	2	1
30	Calvin Coolidge	Republican	6	0	6	0	6	0	0	6	1
31	Herbert Hoover	Republican	4	0	2	2	2	0	2	4	1
32	Franklin Roosevelt	Democratic	12	0	12	0	12	0	0	12	4
33	Harry Truman	Democratic	6	2	6	2	6	2	0	8	1
34	Dwight Eisenhower	Republican	2	6	2	6	2	6	0	8	2
35	John Kennedy	Democratic	3	0	3	0	3	0	0	3	1
36	Lyndon Johnson	Democratic	5	0	5	0	5	0	0	5	1
37	Richard Nixon	Republican	0	6	0	6	0	6	0	6	2
38	Gerald Ford	Republican	0	2	0	2	0	2	0	2	0
39	Jimmy Carter	Democratic	4	0	4	0	4	0	0	4	1
40	Ronald Reagan	Republican	6	2	0	8	0	2	6	8	2
41	George H. W. Bush	Republican	0	4	0	4	0	4	0	4	1
42	Bill Clinton	Democratic	2	6	2	6	2	6	0	8	2
43	George W. Bush	Republican	4.5	3.5	6	2	4.5	2	1.5	8	2
44	Barack Obama	Democratic	6	2	2	6	2	2	4	8	2
#	President	President's Party	Senate with	Senate opposed	House with	House opposed	Congress with	Congress opposed	Congress divided	Years served	Elections won

See also

• Divided government in the United States
• Party divisions of United States Congresses
• Political power in the United States over time
• Political party strength in U.S. states

References

1. "Party In Power - Congress and Presidency - A Visual Guide To The Balance of Power In Congress, 1945-2008". Uspolitics.about.com. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
2. "Chart of Presidents of the United States". Filibustercartoons.com. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
3. "Composition of Congress by Party 1855–2013". Infoplease.com. Retrieved September 17, 2012.