Presidential Success in Congress: Factors that Determine the President\u27s Ability to Influcence Congressional Voting

This study examines the factors that contribute to presidential success in Congress. Results show that, overall, presidential popularity, the president\u27s party\u27s margin of control in Congress and the misery index positively and significantly affect presidential success in Congress, whereas party unity, presidential effort and saliency are, overall, not significant determinants of success. The study also demonstrates that the honeymoon period does not increase a president\u27s success rate. The results indicate that these variables interact differently within foreign policy than domestic policy and in the Senate than the House