"Boxing match!"
In examining the relationship between Congress and the President, it's important to learn which which
president was hated most by Congress, and which president was loved the most
by Congress. Examine the data below, taken mostly from the Gallop Poll.
NOTE: If you need help matching the president to his political party,
look at the cartoons below!
NOTE: If you need help matching the president to his political party,
look at the cartoons below!
- Examine the first graph above. Which of the presidents named enjoyed success in having their party share dominance in Congress? Which
presidents had a party affiliation different from the
majority in Congress?
- Of those presidents, which president had the highest party majority in Congress? Which presidents had the highest percentage of opposing Congressmen during his administration?
- ANALYSIS: Why is it so important for a president to have a party majority in Congress?
4. Examine the second graph. Which president had the highest increase in approval ratings?
5. ANALYSIS: The Gallop Poll measures popular opinion about the president. But we’re discussing the President in Congress. From this poll, however, what can you conclude about that particular president and his relationship with Congress?
5. ANALYSIS: The Gallop Poll measures popular opinion about the president. But we’re discussing the President in Congress. From this poll, however, what can you conclude about that particular president and his relationship with Congress?
GRAPH #3
6. Examine the graph above. Which president had the highest increase in disapproval ratings?
The two graphs below deal with disapproval ratings (which are the brown lines), and the approval from the opposite party. For example, Obama is a Democrat, which means, when examining his data, you see his general disapproval ratings and his approval ratings from the Republicans. Just for your reference, the following presidents were of the following party:
- Truman - DEMOCRAT (1945-1952) Carter - DEMOCRAT (1976-1980)
- Eisenhower - REPUBLICAN (1952-1960) Reagan - REPUBLICAN (1980-1988)
- Kennedy - DEMOCRAT (1960-1963) Bush, Sr. - REPUBLICAN (1988-1992)
- Johnson - DEMOCRAT (1963-1968) Clinton - DEMOCRAT (1992-2000)
- Nixon - REPUBLICAN (1968-1974) Bush, Jr. - REPUBLICAN (2000-2008)
- Ford - REPUBLICAN (1974-1976) Obama - DEMOCRAT (2008-2016)
REPUBLICAN Presidents with approval by the DEMOCRATIC Party.
DEMOCRATIC Presidents with approval by the REPUBLICAN Party.
7. Which president(s) had the highest approval ratings from his OPPOSING PARTY? Look at both graphs above. (REMEMBER: You want the disapproval line to go down and the approval line for whichever party to go up. So...HINT: Find the presidents where the two lines are "closest together"...)
8. ANALYSIS: This might seem like a trivial question, but it’s not: What does your answer to Question #7 say about that president and his relationship with Congress?
8. ANALYSIS: This might seem like a trivial question, but it’s not: What does your answer to Question #7 say about that president and his relationship with Congress?
9. Examine the sixth graph. In what years was Congressional approval at its highest? at its lowest? Which president(s) were in power at the time?
