ABSTRACT
Presidential government, despite frequent predictions to the contrary, has functioned without strong partisan controls. A presidential system operates in no such clear-cut fashion. The separation of executive and legislative branches gives both Congress and the president an opportunity to appeal to the voters. The tendency of mid-term Congressional elections to forecast the presidential elections following two years later is highly impressive. In 1874 the Democrats carried the House; in 1876 Tilden obtained a popular majority although his Republican opponent managed to get the presidency. A presidential election serves in much greater measure to bring the control of the whole governmental apparatus in line with the change that has occurred over the country. In actual practice our system can respond quickly to emergency conditions once the public is convinced of the need. Presidential leadership sustained by a united people has power for any crisis.
